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http://www.archive.org/details/standardhistoryo01tind 







George Washington 



Standard History 

of 

The City of Washington 

From a Study of the Original Sources 



By WILLIAM TINDALL 



Knoxville, Tenn. 

Published by H. W. Crew & Co. 

1914 



Copyrighted 1914 

by 

H. W. CREW & CO. 



-4 !9!4 



Knoxville Lithographing Co. 

Printers and Binders 

Knoxville, Tenn. 



'CI.A376883 ^_ 



INTRODUCTION 

The history of the city of Washington divides itself 
almost necessarily into two distinct periods; that preceding 
and that following the removal there of the National Govern- 
ment. The characteristic features of these two periods are 
so divergent as to practically demand distinct methods of 
treatment for each. 

Among the many projects of a public nature which 
President Washington sought to promote, none was closer to 
his heart than the establishment of the Capital of the Nation 
upon the banks of his beloved Potomac. The story of that 
event is a chapter in Washington's life. The recital of the 
more prominent facts connected with an incident with every 
aspect of which President Washington was so closely asso- 
ciated can scarcely fail to arouse a desire for the more intimate 
details which lend color to the sketch; that desire to know 
the actors as living personalities which Browning felt when 
he penned the lines : 

"Ah, did you once see Shelley plain, 

And did he stop and speak to you, 

And did you speak to him again? 

How strange it seems and new!" 

This element of color and detail, it is believed, could in no 
way be more effectively supplied than by telling the story, so 
far as possible, in the words of the participants. From the 
documents and records in the Government archives it is 
possible to give an almost complete story of the establishment 
of the city of Washington in the actual language of the men 
who achieved it ; and believing that in the words of Washing- 
ton, Jefferson, L 'Enfant, Carroll, Johnson, Stuart, Thornton, 
Scott and White, this story could be told with more intense 
interest than in any words of his own, the compiler endeavored, 
in giving this portion of the city's history, to utilize to the 
fullest possible extent such of their writings relating to the 
subject, as are still preserved. 

The adoption of this method of treatment for the period 
in question was first suggested by an examination of the 
remarkable collection of documents — itself a history of the 
founding of the city — prepared by Mr. Hugh T. Taggart, and 
constituting the greater part of the record in the celebrated 



VI History of the City of Washington 

Potomac Flats cases. In addition to this source of inspiration, 
the writer is indebted for many valuable suggestions to Mr. 
H. C. Gauss, whose recent investigation of the title of the 
United States to lands in the District of Columbia on behalf of 
the Congressional Commission created for that purpose in 1908 
gave him a particularly intimate acquaintance with the subject. 
An expression of deep appreciation is due, also, to Mr. Edward 
F. Concklin, of the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, 
for many courtesies, extending over a period of several months, 
during which every facility was accorded for examining the 
records and correspondence of the Federal Commissioners who 
laid out the city; and to Mr. Thomas Griffin, Jr., of the Bureau 
of Kolls and Library of the State Department, and Mr. John 
C. Fitzpatrick of the Manuscript Division of the Library of 
Congress and his staff for assistance rendered in examining 
the documents in their respective departments. 

The period of the city 's history subsequent to the removal 
of the Government to Washington in 1800 was necessarily 
incapable of the same character of treatment as that given 
the period preceding that event. The review of the city 
government from 1800 to the creation of the Territorial 
government in 1871 is in large part based upon the city 
charters and ordinances. The general history and the topical 
chapters have been compiled from such available sources of 
information as were deemed reliable, including newspaper 
files, directories, the statements of municipal and corporation 
officials and the publications of the various institutions and 
corporations mentioned. 

In the preparation of the special chapters on art, literature, 
music, the drama, monuments, and of much of the material 
relating to colonial and Indian history and to the subjects of 
schools, inaugurals, social life, and local events, covering the 
period from 1800 to 1871, the writer was greatly assisted by 
Miss Alice R. James. For the preparation of the chapters 
on the location and establishment of the city, and on its 
government and general history, he is indebted to the assist- 
ance of Mr. Philip Tindall, formerly of the District of 
Columbia bar. WILLIAM TINDALL. 

Washington, July 18, 1914. 



CONTENTS 

CHAPTER I. 

The Period Prior to the Adoption of the Site on the 
Potomac for the Permanent Seat of Government 9 

o 

CHAPTER II. 

The Adoption of the Site on the Potomac 21 

o 

CHAPTER III. 

Selection of the Site and Acquisition of the Land for 
the City 37 

o 

CHAPTER IV. 

The First Board of Commissioners 113 

o 

CHAPTER V. 

Conclusion of the Establishment Period 193 

o 

CHAPTER VI. 

The Mayoralty Government of "Washington; 1802-1871. 

Charters 225 

o 

CHAPTER VII. 

The Territorial Government ; 1871-1874 247 



History of the City of Washington 

CHAPTER VIII. 

The Temporary Commission Government ; 1874-1878 271 

o 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Permanent Commission Government; 1878 — 277 

o 

CHAPTER X. 
Municipal Suffrage 309 

o 

CHAPTER XI. 
General History 319 

o 

CHAPTER XII. 
Public Buildings and Grounds 433 

o 

CHAPTER XIII. 

Art, Literature, Music and the Drama 481 

o 

CHAPTER XIV. 
Monuments 511 

o 

CHAPTER XV. 
The Press : . 530 

o — 

CHAPTER XVI. 
History of Banking 540 

o 

CHAPTER XVII. 
The Bench and Bar . : 572 



CHAPTER I. 



The Period Prior to the Adoption of the Site on the Potomac 
for the Permanent Seat of Government. 

AS the beholder looks upon the Capital of the Nation today, 
with its wide, shaded streets, magnificent buildings, rest- 
ful parks, costly monuments, and thousands of trees, it 
requires a vigorous play of the imagination to picture the 
swamps and forests which they have replaced and to realize 
that where is now the teeming population of a metropolitan 
city were once the tepees and campfires of the primitive Indian 
inhabitants. 

Some of the ancient Indian village sites in the present 
District of Columbia named by archaeologists are : one at Little 
Falls on the west bank of the Anacostia; one between First 
and Second Streets, southeast ; one on the crest of the hill on 
the Virginia side of the Potomac at Chain Bridge; another 
opposite the foot of Analostan Island on the Virginia side ; 
another at the mouth of Four Mile Run; and yet another at 
the south end of Long Bridge ; while the abundance of flint 
debris on hills bordering Rock Creek, show that vicinity to have 
been a popular Indian resort for making arrow-heads. 

The site where our National Capital now spreads its streets 
and avenues was formerly the center of the one-time powerful 
Algonquins, the sub-tribe of this great family having their 
village here being the Powhatans. They were in possession when 
Captain John Smith explored the region and had been for 
hundreds of years previous to that time. All the tribes of the 
Algonquins met in council here and the place of these national 
meetings was on the delta between the Potomac and its Eastern 
Branch. The council-house stood at the foot of the very hill on 



10 History of the City of Washington. 

which now stands the lofty American Capitol. The Indians 
also came here in great numbers during the fishing season and 
called the vicinity their ' ' fishing ground. ' ' 

The first white men to explore the Potomac, though they 
do not appear to have come as far up as the present site of 
Washington, were in all probability Spaniards. 

The story of the first Spanish settlement as gathered from 
the Spanish records by Buckingham Smith is related by the 
Catholic historian Shea in a paper contributed by him to the 
New York Historical Society. The story as thus given is that 
a Spanish vessel came up the Potomac in the first half of the 
Sixteenth Century and carried away to Mexico the brother of 
the Chief of Axacan. Giving to the letter "x" its Spanish 
pronunciation approaching the German " ch, " the Spanish name 
Axacan becomes almost the exact equivalent of the English 
Occoquan. This Indian was baptized in the Christian Church 
and sent to Spain. In 1566 the Spanish Admiral Pedro 
Menendez sent a vessel with two Dominican fathers to set up 
a mission at Axacan but the party was frightened away. The 
enterprise was taken up four years later by a party of Jesuits 
under Father Segura. The latter expedition reached Axacan 
September 10, 1570, bringing with them the Indian who had 
been taken away by the Spaniards years before and who had 
been given the name Luis de Velasco, and who was relied upon 
to protect the party from the attacks of the Indians. Velasco 's 
wild nature reasserting itself, he deserted the missionaries and 
participated in their slaughter by the Indians. In the following 
spring a Spanish vessel arrived with supplies for the mission 
and carried the news of its fate back to Menendez who proceeded 
to Axacan and hung at the yard arm eight of those who had 
participated in the killing of the missionaries, though Velasco 
had escaped to the mountains. With Menendez the Spanish flag 
departed forever from the Potomac. The Spaniards named the 
Chesapeake the Bay of St. Mary and the Potomac the Espiritu 
Santo. 

Parkman in his ''Pioneers of New France" mentions letters 
from Menendez to Philip II of Spain reciting that in 1565 and 



History of the City of Washington. 11 

for some years previous the French above the Gulf of St. 
Lawrence had received buffalo skins — six thousand in two years 
— from the Indians who had brought them down the Potomac 
and up the coast in canoes. Mr. Hugh T. Taggart in a paper 
read before the Columbia Historical Society argues that the 
voyage from the Potomac to the St. Lawrence in heavy laden 
canoes was an impossibility and that the French must have done 
their trading with the Indians on the Potomac. 

Captain John Smith, probably the first Englishman to 
explore the Potomac, as well as other rivers emptying into the 
Chesapeake Bay, said in his valuable and remarkable "General 
History of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles : ' ' 

' ' The fourth river is called Patawomecke, 6 or 7 myles in 
breadth. It is navigable 140 myles, and fed as the rest 
with many sweet rivers and springs, which fall from the 
bordering hils. These hils many of them are planted, and 
yield no lesse plentie and varietie of fruit, then the river 
exceedeth with abundance of fish. It is inhabited on both 
sides. First on the south side at the very entrance is 
Wighcocomoco and hath some 130 men, beyond them 
Sekacawone with 30. — The Onawmanient with 100. And 
the Patawomekes more than 200. Here doth the river 
divide itself into 3 or 4 convenient branches. The greatest 
of the last is called Quiyouh, trending Northwest, but the 
river itselfe turneth Northeast, and is still a navigable 
streame. On the Westerne side of this branch is Tauxenent 
with 40 men. On the North of the river is Secowocomoco 
with 40. Somewhat further Potapaco with 20. In the 
East part is Pamacaeack with 60. After Moyowance with 
100. And lastly, Nocotchtanke with 80. The river aboue 
this place maketh his passage downe a low pleasant valley 
overshadowed in many places with high rocky mountaines; 
from whence distill innumerable sweet and pleasant 
springs. ' ' 

Some historians deny that Captain Smith saw the present 
site of Washington and others assert that it is very uncertain, 
but whether he stood on the exact site of this city or not, it is 
reasonably certain that he came this far north on the Potomac. 
He tells of being entertained near the present site of Mt. 
Vernon, at Toags, which place appears on his map as Tauxenent, 



12 History of the City of Washington. 

on the Virginia side of the river; at Mayaones opposite, on the 
Maryland side; and at Naeotchtant or Nacotchtanke, which was 
situated within what is now the District of Columbia. 

He went on up the river until his navigation was prohibited 
by immense rocks over which the water poured, so that it 
appears he went to or nearly to the falls. 

William Stith, writing in 1746, tells of Captain Smith's 
voyage up the Potomac River, his encounters with tribes of 
Indians, the finding of the antimony mine, et cetera, and then 
says: 

"Towards the Falls of Patowmack, they met several 

Parties of Indians in Canoes, loaded with the Flefh of Bears, 

Deer, and other wild Beafts."* 

This early navigator and explorer was one of the most 
striking and interesting characters of our Country's history, 
although he is accused of exaggeration and even of prevarica- 
tion in recording his own deeds. One writer calls him "an 
egotist and a braggart,"! but the same accuser says later: "If 
John Smith, in his many writings, sometimes boasted more than 
other men, he had also done more," and one to do was the sort 
of person needed then, as at all times. Smith was truly brave 
or he would not and could not have faced all the dangers to 
be met in exploring a country of savages, many of whom were 
unfriendly to the white people. 

Nor were his explorations made simply for adventure. He 
drew a map of Virginia, very accurate, considering all the 
difficulties in his way, and preserved many valuable records of 
the country and Indian tribes that would be lost to the world 
but for his pen. 

His descriptions of some of the natural advantages of 
Virginia in those early days, which country includes the 
Potomac and its cities, are interesting. "This Virginia," he 
says, "is a country in America betweene the degrees of 34. and 
45. of the North latitude. The bounds thereof on the East side 
are the great Ocean: on the South lyeth Florida: on the North 

*The History of Firft Discovery and Settlement of Virginia. 
fAinsworth R. Spofford. 



History of the City of Washington. 13 

nova Francia : as for the West thereof, the limits are vnknowne. ' ' 
Of the climate he said : 

"The sommer is hot as in Spaine; the winter colde as in 
Fraume or England. The heat of sommer is in Iune, Iuly 
and August, but commonly the coole Breeses ass wage the 
vehemencie of the heat. The chiefe of winter is halfe 
December, Iunuary, February, and halfe March. The colde 
is extreme sharpe, but here the proverbe is true that no 
extreme long continueth. 

"In the yeare 1607 was an extraordinary frost in most of 
Europe, and this frost was founde as extreame in Virginia. 
But the next yeare for 8. or 10. daies of ill weather, other 
14 daies would be as Sommer." 
In general praise of Virginia he said : 

"The mildnesse of the aire, the fertilitie of the soile, and 
the situation of the rivers are so propitious to the nature 
and vse of man as no place is more convenient for pleasure, 
profit and mans sustenance," 
and concluding a chapter of praise in 1612, he wrote : 

"So then here is a place a nurse for souldiers, a practise 
for marriners, a trade for merchants, a reward for the good, 
and that which is most of all, — a businesse (most acceptable 
to God) to bring such poore infidels to the true knowledge 
of God and his holy Gospell." 

He tells of the soil and shows considerable knowledge of its 
properties, as he does of nearly everything that comes under his 
observation. This vigorous pioneer, trying to build a successful 
colony, was observant of every advantage in the new country, 
and when he was placed at the head of the colony his work and 
reports all tended to the good of the English settlement, regard- 
less of individuals, some of those considering themselves gentle- 
men above the indignity of labor, bringing forth reprimand 
from the practical Captain, and contemptuous remark in his 
reports of the proceedings of the colony. He forced every man 
to work or go without provisions, a law he realized to be 
necessary if the settlers were to be kept from starving. He 
showed his impatience with the would-be idlers when he wrote, 
in 1608 : 

"At this time were most of our chief est men either sick 
or discontented, the rest being in such dispaire, as they 



14 History of the City of Washington. 

would rather starue and rot with idlenes, then be perswaded 
to do anything for their owne relief e without constraint." 
Captain Smith gives us a very good conception of the 

Indians of this part of the country in the Seventeenth century. 
Of their dress the Captain tells us : 

' ' For their apparell, they are some time couered with the 
skinnes of wilde beasts, which in winter are dressed with 
the haire, but in sommer without. The better sort vse large 
mantels of deare skins not much differing in fashion from 
the Irish mantels. Some imbroidered with white beads, 
some with copper, other painted after their manner. . . . 
We have seen some vse mantels made of Turkey feathers, 
so prettily wrought and wouen with threads that nothing 
could be discerned but the feathers, that was exceeding 
warme and very handsome. . . . They adorne themselves 
most with copper beads and paintings. Their women haue 
their legs, hands, breasts and face cunningly imbrodered 
with diuerse workes, as beasts, serpents, artificially wrought 
into their flesh with blacke spots. In each eare commonly 
thy haue 3 great holes, whereat they hange chaines, brace- 
lets, or copper. Some of their men weare in those holes, 
a smal greene and yellow coloured snake, neare halfe a yard 
in length, which crawling and lapping her selfe about his 
necke often times familiarly would kiss his lips. Others 
wear a dead Rat tied by the tail . . . he is most gallant 
that is most monstrous to behould." 
Of their houses : 

"Their buildings and habitations are for the most part 
by the riuers or not farre distant from some fresh spring. 
Their houses are built like our Arbors of small young 
springs (sprigs) bowed and tyed, and so close covered with 
mats or the barkes of trees very handsomely, that not with- 
standing either winde raine or weather, they are as warme 
as stoones, but very smoaky ; yet at the toppe of the house 
there is a hole made for the smoake to goe into right over 
the fire." 
In these houses or arbors he says of the sleepers that "they 

lie heads and points one by the other against the fire : some 

covered with mats, some with skins, and some starke naked lie 

on the ground ; from 6 to 20 in a house. ' ' 

' ' For their musicke they vse a thicke cane, on which they 
pipe as on a Recorder. For their warres they haue a great 



History of the City of Washington. 15 

deepe platter of wood. They cover the mouth thereof with 
a skin, at each corner they tie a walnut, which meeting on 
the backside neere the bottome, with a small rope they 
twitch them togither till it be so taught and stiff e, that 
they may beat vpon it as vpon a drumme. But their chief e 
instruments a Battels made of small gourds or Pumpion 
shels. Of these they haue Base, Tenor, Counter-tenor, 
meane and Trible. These mingled with their voices some- 
times 20 or 30 togither, make such a terrible noise as would 
rather affright than delight any man." 
He tells too of their terrible sacrifices, some of them so 
horrible as to make the reader shudder. 

Indian characteristics are summed up in these words : 

"They are inconstant in everything, but what feare con- 
straineth them to keepe. Craftie, timerous, quicke of 
apprehension, and very ingenuous. Some are of disposition 
fearefull, some bold, most cautelous, all Savage. . . . 
They are soone moued to anger, and so malicious, that they 
seldome forget an injury: they seldome steale one from 
another, lest their coniurers should reveale it, and so they 
be pursued and punished." 

Robert Beverly gives us a picture of the physical Indians 
of those days in these words : 

"They are ftraight and well proportioned, having the 
cleaneft and most exact Limbs in the World : They are so 
perfect in their outward Frame that I never heard of one 
fingle Indian that was either dwarfish, crooked, bandy- 
leg 'd or otherwife miffhapen." 
He also tells of finding in a sack 

"some vaft Bones, which we judged to be the Bones of Men, 
particularly we meafured one Thigh-bone, and found it two 
Foot nine Inches long." 

The next Englishman to ascend the Potomac as far as 
Washington, of whom we have authentic record, was Henry 
Fleet, an English fur-trader and explorer. 

Fleet was a man of sense, and brave almost to the point 
of fool-hardiness. He mixed with the Indians a great deal and 
became familiar with their language and customs, which enabled 
him to preserve, in his journal and letters, much of the history 
of his time, as well as to encourage the people of England to 
emigrate to the new world. We learn most that is known of 



16 History of the City of Washington. 

his explorations in New; England and Virginia from his journal. 
July 4, 1631, he wrote : 

"We weighed anchor from the Downes, and sailed for 

New England, when we arrived in the harbour of Pascat- 

towaie the 9th of September, making some stay upon the 

coast of New England. From thence, on Monday the 19th 

of September, we sailed directly for Virginia, where we 

came to anchor in the bay there, the 21st of October, but 

made little stay. From thence we set sail for the river of 

Potowmack, where we arrived the 26th of October at an 

Indian town called Yowaccomoco, being at the mouth of 

the river. . . . Here I was tempted to run up the river 

to the head, there to trade with a strange populous nation, 

called Mohaks, man-eaters, but after good deliberation, 

I conceived many inconveniences that might fall out. ' ' 

He has much to say of his New England explorations, but 

nothing more of Virginia until April, 1632, when he mentions 

having difficulty in getting to Virginia. May 16, 1632, he wrote : 

"We shaped our course for the river Potowmack, with the 

company of Captain Cleybourne, being in a small vessel." 

He described the trip up the river and in June he arrived 
at the rushing part of the river, or falls, now known as Little 
Falls, four miles above Washington, and described the locality, 
thus : ' ' This place without all question is the most pleasant and 
healthful place in all this country, and most convenient for 
habitation, the air temperate in summer and not violent in 
winter. ' ' 

He traveled yet further up the river: 

"The 27th of June I manned my shallop, and went up 
with the flood the tide rising about four feet in height at this 
place. We had not rowed above three miles but we might hear 
the Falls to roar about six miles distant." 

It must have been on his way back from this expedition 
that Captain Fleet was captured by Indians or chose to stay 
at a village on the Piscataway creek, and there, two years lajter, 
some English explorers under Leonard Calvert found him. 
These explorers landed at a point near the present Colonial 
Beach,* then further up at Marlborough Point on Potomac creek, 

*Dr. James D. Morgan, Columbia Historical Records, Vol. 7. 



History of the City of Washington. 17 

where they were treated in a friendly manner by the Indians. 
After a visit they sailed on the Piscataway creek, where they 
encountered "the natives armed and assembled upon the shore 
to the number of five hundred, ready to dispute his landing, "t 
but they succeeded in convincing the savages that they had 
only friendly intentions. After this adjustment of intentions 
they were hospitably treated by the Indians and Captain Fleet, 
who acted as interpreter, and good feeling was established all 
around. 

The Englishmen, who were seeking a place in which to 
settle, decided that this point was too far up the river and 
returned to Blackistone 's Island, near the mouth of the river, 
taking Fleet with them. The Captain acted as friend, guide 
and interpreter, he by this time being thoroughly familiar with 
the wild Indian country through which they traveled. Some 
of his descriptions of the upper Potomac, which were later pub- 
lished in England, caused many immigrants to turn to the new 
country over seas. 

Captain Fleet ever continued to be interested in the growing 
colonies and in 1638 we find him a member of the Maryland 
House of Assembly and later, 1652, a member of the Virginia 
House of Burgesses.* 

We do not read of other white settlers visiting the site of 
the District of Columbia until the close of the Seventeenth 
Century, when a company of Irish and Scotch came over and 
started a colony in Maryland within the present limits of the 
District. Of the land ceded to these settlers three tracts lay 
within the boundaries of the City of Washington. 
♦ These refugees seem to have been good managers and to 
have succeeded accordingly. They called their new home New 
Scotland and worked their farms in peace and quiet, little 
dreaming that land where their produce grew would one day 
be the territory of one of the proudest cities of one of the great- 
est nations of earth's history. 

One of these early proprietors, Robert Troop, called his 

tHistory of Maryland, by James McSherry. 

*Dr. Morgan, Columbia Historical Records, Vol. 7. 



18 History of the City of Washington. 

farm ' ' Scotland Yard, ' ' and it comprised what is now South- 
east Washington. Another, Francis Pope, named his place 
Rome, and called a small stream at the foot of his hill, Tiber 
River. It is told of this dreamer, that he predicted a greater 
capital than Rome would occupy that hill and that later genera- 
tions would command a great and nourishing country in the 
new world. He related that he had had a dream or vision, in 
which he had seen a splendid parliament house on the hill, 
now known to us as Capitol Hill, which he purchased and called 
Rome, in prophetic honor of the great city to be. 

His title to the land may be somewhat convincive of his 
prophecy, as it was deeded under the name "Rome," June 5, 
1663. It reads : ' 

"Layd out for Francis Pope of this Province Gentleman 

a parcel of land in Charles County called Rome lying on 

the East side of the Anacostian River beginning at a 

marked oak standing by the riverside, the bounded tree of 

Captain Robert Troop and running north by the river for 

breadth the length 200 perches to a bounded oak standing 

at the mouth of a bay or inlet called Tiber. ' ' 

His furrows have long since given place to streets and 

buildings ; his stream still flows in the old course, less glorious, 

perhaps, though more useful, as it now serves the modern use 

of a city sewer. 

Some of the descendants of those early Scotch and Irish 
farmers were among the first proprietors of the City of Wash- 
ington and many of their descendants have continued to help 
build the capital and the country to the present day. 

Many of the great men and women of our Country have 
come down from these old Scotch-Irish pioneers, who settled 
not only on this site, but all along the Potomac River and other 
parts of the then known country. They were people who had 
been persecuted in their own country, and their determined 
efforts for freedom and prosperous homes, together with like 
determination in other home-makers of the different colonies, 
gathered in force and importance, making a people of sturdy 
mould, of like desires and of democratic principles, who were, 



History of the City of Washington. 19 

at a later day, to break all bans and form a new country on 
the earth, — a country of freedom for all people. 

The Seventeenth Century closed and the Eighteenth 
advanced many years without any remarkable event disturbing 
these workers, living their contented lives, with plenty of work 
to occupy them and much beauty to behold in the great woods, 
hills and rivers, on which floated majestic swans in great num- 
bers, fish abounded in the waters, and birds of the air, now no 
longer known to this region, often passed overhead in flocks of 
thousands and tens of thousands during migrating seasons. 

As time progressed and English subjects were occupying 
their plantations and smaller tracts in the new world, the French 
were broadening their claims until finally encroachments on 
their part caused Britain 's children to become alert and question 
their safety if encroachment continued unmolested. So, as 
preparation against possible invasion, ammunition and other 
army supplies were sent to Virginia, which colony then occupied 
large territory in the West. 

The English governor, Robert Dinwiddie, a Scotchman, was 
ordered in 1753 to write a protest to the French Commandant, 
which done, the Governor looked about for a trustworthy mes- 
senger to carry the message. A young man then only twenty-one 
years of age, George Washington, who had already served his 
country in several useful capacities, was selected for the import- 
ant duty, and history tells of his successful trip througK almost 
insurmountable difficulties. 

Chevalier de St. Pierre received the young envoy with 
courtesy, but his reply to the English protest was a refusal to 
comply with the request, which unwelcome answer Washington 
was compelled to carry back through the winter woods, a trip 
through which in those early days, was almost Herculean. It 
is recorded that an Indian guide attempted to shoot Washing- 
ton during this return trip and that his life was also endangered 
by a fall into the Alleghany River, at that time filled with 
floating ice. 

It is known how, after this failure to bring about amicable 
relations, the English, in 1754, sent the ill-fated expedition 



20 History of the City of Washington. 

under General Braddock against the French, which was the 
beginning of hostilities that ended only after years of fighting, 
in English victory. This long French and English war is mat- 
ter of history, mentioned here only to bring forward George 
Washington, who then played a conspicuous part and was later 
to take such active part in the history of his country. 

Governor Dinwiddie's choice shows the esteem in which the 
young Washington was held at twenty-one, and this respect of 
his elders began at a much earlier age. During his early years 
George Washington was learning to be a surveyor, gaining rough 
and valuable experience in Virginia wilds with Indians and 
other woods inhabitants. At sixteen Lord Fairfax engaged him 
to survey his lands of thousands of acres and the lad proved 
himself capable of such a performance. The government sur- 
veyors engaged in laying out the Appalachian forest reserve 
have recently reported finding the marks left by Washington 
in running the lines of Lord Fairfax's lands. 

These early incidents of Washington's life had an important 
if indirect bearing upon the subsequent establishment of the 
National Capital. As will be noted later, one of the important 
considerations which determined the selection of the present 
site was its accessibility to the country west of the Allegheny 
Mountains by way of the Potomac River, the Cumberland Pass, 
and the headwaters of the Ohio River. It was this route which 
Washington traversed in the occasion of his mission to the 
French and again in company with the Braddock expedition. 
After the close of the Revolution he again, in 1784, journeyed 
across the mountains by the same route. His familiarity with 
the importance of the Western Territory* and of the advantages 
of the Potomac route which he acquired on thes^ trips was 
doubtless an important factor among the influences which 
brought Congress to adopt the site on the Potomac for the 
Federal City. 



CHAPTER II 



The Adoption of the Site on the Potomac 

^^■r HE Capital City of the United States is the only national 
111 capital the establishment of which was to a material 
^■^ degree due to or influenced by the purpose of the 
national authority to protect itself from its own citizens. 

It will be recalled that " ir the close of the Revolutionary 
War a body of dissatisfied soldiers of the American Army 
marched to Philadelphia where the Continental Congress was 
then holding its sessions, and with threats of violence demanded 
of that body the satisfaction of certain demands, chief among 
which was that for the settlement of arrears of pay due the 
soldiers. This was in June of the year 1783. The immediate 
result of this action on the part of the revolutionary soldiers 
was that on June 21, 1783, the Continental Congress passed 
the following resolution : 

"Resolved, That the President and supreme executive 
council of Pennsylvania be informed that the authority of 
the United States having been this day grossly insulted by 
the disorderly and menacing appearance of a body of armed 
soldiers about the place within which Congress were assem- 
bled, and the peace of this city being endangered by the 
mutinous disposition of the said troops now in the barracks, 
it is, in the opinion of Congress, necessary that effectual 
measures be immediately taken for supporting the public 
authority. 

"Resolved, That the committee, on a letter from Colonel 
Butler, be directed to confer, without loss of time, with the 
supreme executive council of Pennsylvania, on the prac- 
ticability of carrying the preceding resolution into effect; 
and that in case it shall appear to the committee that there 
is not a satisfactory ground for expecting adequate and 



22 History of the City of Washington. 

prompt exertions of this State for supporting the dignity 
of the Federal Government, the President on the advice of 
the committee be authorized and directed to summon the 
members of Congress to meet on Thursday next at Trenton 
or Princeton, in New Jersey, in order that further and 
more effectual measures may be taken for suppressing the 
present revolt, and maintaining the dignity and authority 
of the United States. 

"Resolved, That the Secretary at War be directed to com- 
municate to the commander in chief, the state and disposi- 
tion of the said troops, in order that he may take immediate 
measures to dispatch to this city such force as he may judge 
expedient for suppressing any disturbances that may 
ensue. ' ' 

On June 21, a committee consisting of Mr. Hamilton and 
Mr. Ellsworth was appointed for the purpose of conferring 
with the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania with a 
view to obtaining the protection of Congress by the militia of 
the State of Pennsylvania, and on June 24 that committee 
returned a lengthy report in which the attitude of the author- 
ities of that State was set forth as follows : 

"That the council had a high respect for the represen- 
tative sovereignty of the United States, and were disposed 
to do everything in their power to support its dignity. 
That they regretted the insult which had happened, with 
this additional motive of sensibility, that they had them- 
selves had a principal share in it. That they had consulted 
a number of well-informed officers of the militia, and found 
that nothing in the present state of things was to be 
expected from that quarter. That the militia of the city in 
general were not only ill provided for service, but disin- 
clined to act upon the present occasion. That the council 
did not believe any exertions were to be looked for from 
them, except in case of further outrage and actual violence 
to person or property. That in such case a respectable 
body of citizens would arm for the security of their prop- 
erty and of the public peace ; but it was to be doubted 
what measure of outrage would produce this effect, and in 
particular, it was not to be expected merely from a repeti- 
tion of the insult which had happened." 
Without going at length into the methods by which the 
mutiny was dealt with, and the equanimity of Congress, which 



History of the City of Washington. 23 

had removed to Princeton, restored, it is sufficient to note that 
the immediate effect of the incident was the commencement of 
a series of discussions which was destined to last through a 
period of seven years looking to the establishment of the seat 
of government to be under the exclusive jurisdiction of Con- 
gress. The matter first came up in definite form when, on 
October 6, 1783, the order of the day having been called for 
and read, it was resolved "that the question be taken in which 
state buildings shall be provided and erected for the residence 
of Congress, beginning with New Hampshire and proceeding 
in the order in which they stand." The question upon each 
state passed in the negative, no state having received more than 
four votes, New Jersey and Maryland having each received 
that number. 

The first consideration of a proposal to acquire territory 
for the establishment of a new capital city, and apparently the 
first consideration of the Potomac River as the site thereof 
appears in a motion by Mr. Gerry of Massachusetts, seconded by 
Mr. Howell of Rhode Island, on Tuesday, October 7, 1783, as 
follows : 

"That buildings for the use of Congress be erected on 
the banks of the Delaware, near Trenton, or of Potomac, 
near Georgetown, provided a suitable district can be pro- 
cured on one of the rivers as aforesaid for a Federal town, 
and the right of soil and an exclusive or such other juris- 
diction as Congress may direct shall be vested in the United 
States." 

Omitting a review of the long series of motions, counter- 
motions and debates relating to the proposed Federal city which 
constituted a very considerable portion of the proceedings of 
the Continental Congress, it is worth while to call attention to 
the fact that repeatedly the motions for the adoption of one 
site or another contained the proviso found in Mr. Gerry's 
motion, namely that "the right of soil and an exclusive or such 
other jurisdiction as Congress may direct shall be vested in the 
United Stated." 

It is interesting to note the striking and fundamental dif- 
ference between this language and that later adopted by the 



h 



24 History of the City of Washington. 

Constitutional Convention, to which the question of providing 
for a permanent capital was shifted. By Section eight of 
Article 1 of the Constitution Congress is given power: 

"To exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases whatsoever, 
over such district (not exceeding 10 miles square) as may, 
by cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Con- 
gress, become the seat of the Government of the United 
States, and to exercise like authority over all places pur- 
chased by the consent of the legislature of the State in 
which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, 
arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings." 
It will be observed that with regard to the seat of govern- 
ment, that the Constitution makes provision for "exclusive 
legislation," only, over such District as may by cession of 
particular states and the acceptance of Congress become the 
seat of government. As to sites for forts, magazines, arsenals, 
dockyards and other needful buildings, the Constitution gives 
Congress like authority over all places "purchased by the con- 
sent of the legislature of the state in which the same shall be." 
It is evident from the language used in the Constitution, that 
as to places acquired for forts, magazines, arsenals and dock- 
yards, its framers contemplated not only that Congress should 
exercise exclusive legislation over such places, but that the title 
to the land acquired for such purposes should be in the United 
States. The land was to be purchased not from the State in 
which it might be situated but from its individual owners, with 
the consent of the state legislature. 

But as to the territory to be acquired as the seat of govern- 
ment, it is evident from the language used in the Constitution, 
that there was no thought of any purchase of title to the land 
further than of such as might be necessary for government pur- 
poses. The territory was to be acquired not by purchase but 
"by cession of particular states." By this cession the states 
were to transfer to the United States merely their sovereignty 
over the territory ceded — not the oivnership of the land. The 
ownership of the land was to remain in the individual 
proprietors and only so much of the land to be purchased by 
the United States from such proprietors, as should be needed 



History of the City of Washington. 25 

for government purposes. In line with this thought, the act 
of cession of Virginia of December 3, 1789, and the Act of Mary- 
land of December 19, 1791, ratifying the cession of that State, 
both contained provisoes to the effect that nothing therein 
contained should be construed to vest in the United States any 
right of property in the soil or to affect the rights of individuals 
therein otherwise than as the same should or might be trans- 
ferred by such individuals to the United States. 

This proviso of the Maryland and Virginia Acts, as well as 
the spirit of the Constitutional provision for the Federal Terri- 
tory, are notably different from the underlying idea involved 
in Mr. Gerry's original motion for the establishment of a Capital 
City on the Potomac River and embodied in nearly all of the 
motions and resolutions on the subject of the location of a 
permanent capital discussed by the Continental Congress. In 
the propositions considered by the Continental Congress, the 
almost invariable language: "provided a suitable district can 
be procured * * * and the right of soil and an exclusive 
or such other jurisdiction as Congress may direct shall be vested 
in the United States," indicates that the consideration of 
primary importance during that period was that the Federal 
Government should own the soil itself. The matter of 'exclusive 
jurisdiction was then regarded as of secondary importance, as 
is clearly to be gathered from the repeated use of the alternative 
provision, — provided an exclusive or such other jurisdiction as 
Congress may direct, shall be vested in the United States. 

The reversal of the attitude of the founders upon the ques- 
tion of the respective importance of these two considerations 
was of fundamental consequence in its bearing upon the future 
relationship between the Federal Government and the District 
of Columbia. Whether this has worked to the detriment or to 
the advantage of the latter, it is impossible to say; but it is 
safe to assert that if the Constitution had provided for the 
acquisition not only of jurisdiction but also of the "right of 
soil" by the United States as provided for in the motions con- 
sidered by the Continental Congress, and if these requirements 
had been observed in the acquisition of the site for the Federal 



26 History of the City of Washington. 

city, Congress would not have taken between seventy and eighty 
years to come to a realization of its obligations toward the 
development of the District of Columbia, nor, having come to 
that realization be constantly holding over the District the 
menace of a reversal of its attitude. As proprietor of all the 
land, it would at least have felt and could not have evaded the 
responsibilities incident to the ownership of the land. Whether 
the opportunities for outsiders to move in and assist in build- 
ing up a beautiful capital city would have been so favorable, 
and whether the burden upon the population as lessee's of the 
government would have been greater or less than as owners of 
the land, it is impossible to say; but in any aspect of the case 
the National Government would have been compelled to recog- 
nize from the outset its primary responsibility for the municipal 
expense of the District, regardless of the measures to be adopted 
by it in seeking contribution or reimbursement from the local 
population. 

Immediately upon the assembling of the Congress provided 
for by the Constitution, the question of the establishment of a 
permanent seat of government was taken up. The discussion 
was marked, as it had been during the sessions of the Con- 
tinental Congress, by a divergence of sentiment between the 
Northern and Southern states, — the former favoring a city to 
be established upon either the Delaware or the Susquehanna, 
and the latter a city to be established upon the Potomac. The 
discussion at times was exceedingly acrimonious as is evidenced 
by Mr. Madison's remark in the course of a debate, that had 
a prophet started up in the Constitutional Convention and 
foretold the proceedings of that day, he verily believed that 
Virginia would not then have been a party to the Constitution. 

The final determination to locate the Capital City upon the 
Potomac River was probably ascribable to a number of 
important considerations. Its location there was in a measure 
a compliment to General "Washington, and had the further 
advantage of being the most nearly accessible to both the 
Northern and Southern states of any site that could have been 
selected. Another geographical reason which played a highly 



History of the City of Washington. 27 

important part, in the adoption of that location, was the fact 
that the Potomac River allowed of a site, which could be reached 
by ocean navigation, the farthest inland of any to be found 
on any of the rivers of the Atlantic seaboard, and at the same 
time afforded the shortest line of communication with the vast 
undeveloped region to the west, the most important point of 
which at that time was the present site of the City of Pitts- 
burg. The head waters of the Potomac and the head waters 
of the Ohio River approach so close to each other that these 
two rivers afford an almost continuous potential water passage 
from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ohio Valley. General Wash- 
ington had as has already been told traversed this route on 
several occasions prior to the Revolutionary War and in the 
fall of 1784 had again traversed it on the occasion of a trip 
to the Western country. He was an ardent believer in the 
feasibility of utilizing this route as a great commercial highway 
when developed by means of canals. He had in fact organized 
the Potowmack Company in 1785 for the purpose of clearing 
the channel of the Potomac and building canals around the 
Great and Little Falls, and the work was in course of prosecu- 
tion while the debates on the site for the federal city were in 
progress. It was expected that the region west of the Allegheny 
Mountains would rapidly become populated and developed, and 
with this expectation in mind, the importance of placing the 
National Capital where it could be most easily reached by the 
population which should settle in this new Western country was 
obvious to every one. 

In the records of the proceedings of Congress for Septem- 
ber 14, 1789, appears the following discussion which will serve 
to indicate the force of this argument in determining the ques- 
tion where the Capital City should be placed : 

"Mr. Scott, of Pennsylvania, observed that the question 
seemed to lie between the Susquehanna and the Potomac. 
He gave a geographical description of those rivers, in rela- 
tion to their advantages of communication with the Western 
territory; he considered Pittsburg as the key of that 
territory. The result of his detail was clearly in favor of 
the Potomac. That there is no comparison between the 



28 History of the City of Washington. 

advantages of one communication and the other, with 
respect to the Ohio country. The Potomac will, no doubt, 
one day be a very important channel into those regions. 
That though he thought that the Potomac was nearer the 
center of communication between the Atlantic and the Ohio 
than the Susquehanna, as there was no prospect of a decis- 
ion in favor of the former he should give his vote for the 
Susquehanna. In this situation, as he was a native of 
Pennsylvania, there was a certain duty which he owed to 
his country, and which he should now perform." 
Mr. Madison, in debate (on the 4th of September), 
observed — 

"if there be any event on which we may calculate with 
tolerable certainty, I take it the center of population will 
continually advance in a southwestern direction. It must 
then travel from the Susquehanna, if it is now found there. 
It may go beyond the Potomac; but the time will be long 
first; and, if it should, the Potomac is the great highway 
of communication between the Atlantic and the Western 
country, which will justly prevent any attempts to remove 
the seat farther south. I have said, sir, that the communi- 
cation to the Western territory is more commodious through 
the Potomac than the Susquehanna. I wish all the facts 
connected with this subject could have been more fully 
ascertained and more fully stated. But if we consider the 
facts which have been offered by gentlemen who spoke, we 
must conclude that the communication through the Potomac 
would be much more facile and effectual than any other." 
Mr. Madison stated the probable distance by land from 
the seat of government, if fixed on the Potomac, to Pittsburg, at 
170 or 180 miles ; if by the river, 250 miles ; and from the seat 
of Government, if fixed on the Susquehanna, by land, 250; by 
the river, 500. 

"Whether, therefore [he said], we measure the distance 
by land or water, it is in favor of the Potomac; and if we 
consider the progress in opening this great channel, I am 
confident that consideration would be equally favorable. It 
has been determined, by accurate research, that the waters 
running into the Ohio may be found not more than 2 or 
3 miles distant from those of the Potomac. This is a fact 
of peculiar importance." 
The journal kept by William Macklay, Senator from 



History of the City of Washington. 29 

Pennsylvania, who was an ardent advocate of the site on the 
Susquehanna River, recites that a decisive argument in favor 
of the site on the Potomac was an estimate of the expenditure 
which would be required to render the Susquehanna navigable. 
On the other hand, the Potowmack Company of which President 
Washington was the moving spirit had already demonstrated 
the practicability of opening to navigation the Potomac and 
its tributaries from their headwaters to tidewater at George- 
town, and had carried this project well toward completion. 

£-All of the considerations above noted, however, would prob- 
ably have failed to bring about the selection of the Potomac River 
as the site for the Federal Capital, owing to the reluctance of 
the Northern States to place the seat of government so far south, 
had it not been for an additional consideration less legitimate 
but undoubtedly much more powerful than the others. The 
Northern States were exceedingly anxious to have the Federal 
Government assume the debts contracted by the several states 
in the prosecution of the Revolutionary War, and a measure 
to this effect had been ardently championed by Alexander 
Hamilton as part of the general fiscal scheme which he was^ 
endeavoring to put in operation. The Southern States were 
opposed to this measure, and finally agreed to its passage, but 
only when the consent of the Northern States to the location of 
the Capital City on the Potomac River had been pledged. '" The 
manner in which the final compromise was brought about is 
interestingly related by Mr. Jefferson in the collection of notes 
which he entitled his "Ana," as follows: 

"Hamilton was in despair. As I was going to the Pres- 
ident's one day, I met him in the street. He walked me 
backwards and forwards before the President's door for 
half an hour. He painted pathetically the temper into 
which the legislature had been wrought, the disgust of those 
who were called the creditor States, the danger of the seces- 
sion of their members, and the separation of the States. He 
observed that the members of the administration ought to 
act in concert, that tho' this question was not of my depart- 
ment, yet a common duty should make it a common concern ; 
that the President was the center on which all administra- 



30 History of the City of Washington. 

tive questions ultimately rested, and that all of us should 
rally around him and support with joint efforts measures 
approved by him; and that the question having been lost 
by a small majority only, it was probable that an appeal 
from me to the judgment and discretion of some of my 
friends might affect a change in the vote, and the machine 
of government, now suspended, might be again set in 
motion. I told him that I was really a stranger to the whole 
subject; not having yet informed myself of the system of 
finances adopted, I knew not how far this was a necessary 
sequence ; that undoubtedly if its rejection endangered a 
dissolution of our Union at this incipient stage, I should 
deem that the most unfortunate of all consequences, to avert 
which all partial and temporary evils should be yielded. 
I proposed to him, however, to dine with me the next day, 
and I would invite another friend or two, bring them into 
conference together, and I thought it impossible that rea- 
sonable men, consulting together cooly, could fail, by some 
mutual sacrifices of opinion, to form a compromise which 
was to save the Union. The discussion took place. I could 
take no part in it but an exhortatory one, because I was 
a stranger to the circumstances which should govern it. 
But it was finally agreed that whatever importance had 
been attached to the rejection of this proposition the 
preservation of the Union and of the concord among the 
States was most important, and that therefore it would be 
better that the vote of rejection should be rescinded, to 
effect which some members should change their votes. But 
it was observed that this pill would be peculiarly bitter 
to the Southern States, and that some concomitant measure 
should be adopted to sweeten it a little to them. There had 
before been propositions to fix the seat of government either 
at Philadelphia or at Georgetown on the Potomac ; and it was 
thought that by giving it to Philadelphia for ten years and 
to Georgetown permanently afterwards this might, as an 
anodyne, calm in some degree the ferment which might be 
excited by the other measure alone. So two of the Potomac 
members (White and Lee, but White with a revulsion of 
stomach almost convulsive) agreed to change their votes, 
and Hamilton undertook to carry the other point. 

"In doing this, the influence he had established over the 
Eastern members, with the agency of Robert Morris with 
those of the Middle States, effected his side of the agree- 
ment and so assumption was passed, and twenty millions 



History of the City of Washington. 31 

of stock divided, among favored states, and thrown in as 

a pabulum to the stock-jobbing herd. This added to the 

number of votaries to the treasury, and made its chief the 

master of every vote in the legislature which might give to 

the Government the direction suited to his political veiws." 

Two letters written by Mr. Madison to Mr. Monroe within 

a space of six weeks preceeding the final decision of the question 

in Congress give a very good idea of the apprehension which 

Mr. Madison felt that the measure for which he had labored 

so earnestly to locate the Capital City on the Potomac would 

be defeated. Under date of June 1, 1790, he writes: 

"You will see by the enclosed paper that a removal from 
this place has been voted by a large majority of our House. 
The other is pretty nearly balanced. The Senators of the 
three Southern States are disposed to couple the permanent 
with the temporary question. If they do so, I think it 
will end in either an abortion of both, or a decision of the 
former in favor of the Delaware. I have good reason to 
believe that there is no serious purpose in the Northern 
States to prefer the Potomac, and that if supplied with a 
pretext for a very hasty decision, they will indulge their 
secret wishes for a permanent establishment on the Dela- 
ware. As Rhode Island is again in the Union, and will 
probably be in the Senate in a day or two, the Potowmac 
has the less to hope and the more to fear from that quar- 
ter." 
Under date of June 17, 1790, he writes : 

"You will find in the enclosed papers some account of 
the proceedings on the question relating to the seat of 
government. The Senate have hung up the vote for Balti- 
more, which, as you may suppose, could not have been 
seriously meant by many who joined in it. It is not improb- 
able that the permanent seat may be coupled with the 
temporary one. The Potomac stands a bad chance, and 
yet it is not impossible that in the vicissitudes of the bus- 
iness it may turn up in some form or other." 
At the time of the passage of the Act of July 16, 1790, the 
Acts of cession of Maryland and Virginia were already in exist- 
ence. The Act of Maryland approved December 23, 1788, was 
a model of brevity, and provided merely: 

"Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, 
That the representatives of this State in the House of 



32 History of the City of Washington. 

Representatives of the Congress of the United States, 
appointed to assemble at New York on the first Wednesday 
of March next, be, and they are hereby, authorized and 
required, on behalf of this State, to cede to the Congress 
of the United States any district in this State not exceed- 
ing ten miles square, which the Congress may fix upon and 
accept for the seat of government of the United States." 
The somewhat more extensive Act of Virginia, approved 
December 3, 1789, was as follows: 

' ' I. Whereas the equal and common benefits resulting from 
the administration of the General Government will be best 
diffused and its operations become more prompt and certain 
by establishing such a situation for the seat of said govern- 
ment as will be most central and convenient to the citizens 
of the United States at large, having regard as well to 
population, extent of territory, and free navigation to the 
Atlantic Ocean, through the Chesapeake Bay, as to the 
most direct and ready communication with our fellow citi- 
zens in the Western frontiers; and whereas it appears to 
this assembly that a situation combining all the considera- 
tions and advantages before recited may be had on the 
banks of the river Potomac above tide water, in a country 
rich and fertile in soil ; healthy and salubrious in climate, 
and abounding in all the necessaries and conveniences of 
life, where, in a location of ten miles square, if the wisdom 
of Congress shall so direct, the States of Pennsylvania, 
Maryland, and Virginia may participate in such location: 

"II. Be it further enacted by the General Assembly, That 
a tract of country, not exceeding ten miles square, or any 
lesser quantity, to be located within the limits of this State, 
and in any part thereof as Congress may by law direct, 
shall be, and the same is, forever ceded and relinquished 
to the Congress and Government of the United States, in 
full and absolute right and exclusive jurisdiction, as well 
of soil as of persons residing or to reside thereon, pursuant 
to the tenor and effect of the eighth section of the first 
article of the Constitution of the Government of the United 
States. 

"III. Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be 
herein construed to vest in the United States any right of 
property in the soil, or to affect the rights of individuals 
therein, otherwise than the same shall or may be transferred 
by such individuals to the United States. 



History of the City of Washington. 33 

"IV. And provided also, That the jurisdiction of the laws 
of this Common wealth over the persons and property of 
individuals residing within the limits of the cession afore- 
said shall not cease or determine until Congress, having 
accepted the said cession, shall by law provide for the gov- 
ernment thereof, under their jurisdiction, in the manner 
provided by the article of the Constitution before recited." 
The result of the debate on this subject was the passage 
of the Act approved by President Washington July 16, 1790, 
accepting a site to be later more definitely located, which should 
lie upon the Potomac River at some point between the Eastern 
Branch and the Conogocheague, the latter being a small stream 
emptying into the Potomac from the Maryland side near 
Williamsport, about eighty miles above the present site of 
Washington and near the Battlefield of Antietam. This act 
passed the Senate on Thursday, July 1, 1790, by a vote of four- 
teen to twelve. It passed the House of Representatives on 
Friday, July 9, 1790, by a vote of thirty-two to twenty-nine. 
The text of the Act is as follows : 

"AN ACT for establishing the temporary and permanent 
seat of the Government of the United States. 

"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of 
Representatives of the United States of America in Con- 
gress assembled, That a district of territory, not exceeding 
ten miles square, to be located as hereafter directed on the 
river Potomac, at some place between the mouths of the 
Eastern Branch and the Connogochegue, be, and the same 
is hereby, accepted for the permanent seat of the Govern- 
ment of the United States : Provided nevertheless, That the 
operation of the laws of the State within such district shall 
not be affected by this acceptance, until the time fixed for 
the removal of the government thereto, and until Congress 
shall otherwise by law provide. 

"Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President of 
the United States be authorized to appoint, and by supply- 
ing vacancies happening from refusals to act or other causes, 
to keep in appointment as long as may be necessary, three 
commissioners, who, or any two of whom, shall, under the 
direction of the President, survey, and by proper metes 
and bounds define and limit a district of territory, under 
the limitations above mentioned ; and the district so defined, 



34 History of the City of Washington. 

limited, and located shall be deemed the district accepted 
by this Act for the permanent seat of the Government of 
the United States. 

"Sec. 3. And be it (further) enacted, That the said com- 
missioners, or any two of them, shall have power to pur- 
chase or accept such quantity of land on the eastern side 
of the said river, within the said district, as the President 
shall deem proper for the use of the United States and 
according to such plans as the President shall approve, 
the said commissioners, or any two of them, shall, prior to 
the first Monday in December, in the year one thousand 
eight hundred, provide suitable buildings for the accom- 
modation of Congress and of the President, and for the 
public offices of the Government of the United States. 

"Sec. 4. And be it (further) enacted, That for defraying 
the expense of such purchases and buildings, the President 
of the United States be authorized and requested to accept 
grants of money. 

"Sec. 5. And be it (further) enacted, That prior to the 
first Monday in December next, all offices attached to the 
seat of the Government of the United States, shall be 
removed to, and until the said first Monday in December, in 
the year one thousand eight hundred, shall remain at the 
city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, at which 
place the session of Congress next ensuing the present shall 
be held. 

"Sec. 6. And be it (further) enacted, That on the said 
first Monday in December, in the year one thousand eight 
hundred, the seat of the Government of the United States 
shall, by virtue of this act, be transferred to the district 
and place aforesaid. And all offices attached to the said 
seat of government, shall accordingly be removed thereto 
by their respective holders, and shall, after the said day, 
cease to be exercised elsewhere; and that the necessary 
expense of such removal shall be defrayed out of the duties 
on imposts and tonnage, of which a sufficient sum is hereby 
appropriated. 

"Approved, July 16, 1790. (1 Stats., 130.)" 
The Act of Congress of July 16, 1790, notwithstanding it 
was officially entitled "An Act for establishing the temporary 
and permanent seat of the Government of the United States," 
was generally referred to as the Residence Act, by reason of 
its purpose to establish a residence for the Government. It is 



History of the City of Washington. 35 

by the latter name that it is mentioned in all the correspondence 
of the times, and the generality of the use of that name justifies 
its adoption for the sake of brevity in future references to the 
Act herein. 

It is a matter of interest in connection with the proceed- 
ings leading up to the passage of this law, that evidence of the 
President's interference with the deliberations of Congress is 
singularly meager. This is doubtless owing to the fact that, 
notwithstanding the keen interest which he must have enter- 
tained towards the proposition to establish the seat of govern- 
ment on the Potomac, his invariable recognition of the propri- 
eties made him reluctant to obtrusively use his influence in 
support of a measure in which he necessarily had so strong 
a personal concern. 

That he was nevertheless, a close observer of the course of 
events, and that he was in conference with and probably helped 
to furnish arguments to Mr. Madison, who seems to have led 
the fight for the site on the Potomac, is attested by the fol- 
lowing letter to Mr. Madison under date of August 18, 1788 : 

"I am clearly in sentiment with you that the longer the 
question respecting the permanent Seat of Congress remains 
unagitated, the greater certainty there will be of its fixture 
in a central spot. But not having the same means of 
information and judging that you have, it would have been 
a moot point with me, whether a temporary residence of 
that body at New York would not have been a less likely 
means of keeping it ultimately from the center (being 
further removed from it) than if it was to be at Philadel- 
phia ; because, in proportion as you draw it to the center, 
you lessen the inconveniences and of course the solicitude 
of the Southern and "Western extremities; — and when to 
these are superadded the acquaintances and connections 
which will naturally be formed — the expenses which more 
than probably will be incurred for the accommodation jf 
the public officers — with a long train of et cetcras, it 
might be found an arduous task to approach nearer to the 
Axis thereafter. These, however, are first thoughts, and 
may not go to the true principles of policy which govern 
in this case." 



36 History of the City of Washington. 

Again, in a letter to Madison, under date of September 
23, 1788, he writes: 

"Upon mature reflection, I think the reasons you offer 
in favor of Philadelphia, as the place for the first meeting 
of Congress, are conclusive ; especially when the farther 
agitation of the question respecting its permanent residence 
is taken into consideration." 

If any further proof of Washington's interest in the 
premises were required, it is found in the untrammelled author- 
ity with which the Residence Act invested the President in 
carrying out the purpose of that Act coupled with the undivid- 
ed responsibility for the success of the undertaking, which the 
statute imposed upon him, obviously in accordance with his 
preference. 




Thos. Jefferson 



m 



CHAPTER III 



Selection of the Site and Acquisition of the Land 
for the City 

ITH the passage of the Residence Act, Congress imposed 
upon President Washington the task of evolving out 
of the wilderness, within the space of ten years, a city 
equipped and ready for the reception of the National Govern- 
ment. It is difficult at this day to bring the mind to a just 
conception of the magnitude of this task. It was not in the 
mere administrative proceedings necessary to its performance, 
though these were formidable, that its chief difficulties lay. The 
great obstacle to be overcome was the devising and carrying out 
of a plan whereby the necessary ground should be acquired and 
the expense of laying out the city and erecting the public 
buildings be provided for; and this in the face of doubt, dis- 
trust, and jealous opposition in every quarter. The President 
in accomplishing this end was to find his resourcefulness, his 
great tact and unfailing patience, and his marvelous executive 
faculties taxed to the uttermost. It is indeed by no means 
unlikely that the votes necessary to the decision in favor of 
the Potomac would not have been forthcoming but for the 
secret conviction in the minds of many that, shorn as the Act 
was of any appropriation, it imposed upon the President the 
accomplishment of an impossibility. Certainly the task was 
one which none but a man of Washington's extraordinary 
capacity for achievement could hope to accomplish, and which 
none but a brave man could face without dismay. 

From the outset President Washington was fortunate in hav- 
ing the enthusiastic and disinterested encouragement, and advice 
of his Secretary of State, Mr. Jefferson. It is interesting to 



38 History of the City of Washington. 

speculate as to how far he would ever have gotten in carrying 
the Residence Law into effect but for the aid which Mr. Jeffer- 
son rendered during the early period when the wheels of the 
federal establishment were being put in motion. While it is 
impossible from the evidence at hand to be certain where to 
apportion the credit for what was done, the careful investigator 
will be forced to conclude that there is at least strong evidence 
tending to indicate that the solutions of many of the most dif- 
ficult problems which confronted President Washington were 
the product of the restless and versatile mind of Mr. Jefferson. 

Perhaps the most satisfactory aspect of the association of 
these two men in this undertaking was the complete harmony 
that existed between them. President Washington, at all times 
reserving to himself the final decision, yet gave to the sugges- 
tions of Mr. Jefferson the most respectful and thorough consid- 
eration; and Mr. Jefferson, while advancing his ideas with the 
earnestness of an enthusiast, nevertheless did so with the utmost 
diffidence; and when overruled yielded with a completeness that 
gave grace even to his reluctance. 

That Mr. Madison, also, was an active worker for the new 
federal seat after the passage of the Residence Act, as he had 
been in advocating the adoption of the site on the Potomac, is 
strongly suggested by the evidence at hand, though this evi- 
dence is much more fragmentary and incomplete than that which 
testifies to the activities of Mr. Jefferson. 

In putting the Residence Act into operation a number of 
important questions at once presented themselves to President 
Washington for his action. It was necessary in the first place 
to decide at what point on the Potomac River between the 
Eastern Branch and the Conogocheague the federal territory 
should be located, and to determine upon the extent and general 
outlines of the territory. It was necessary at an early date to 
select three Commissioners fitted for the difficult task of lay- 
ing out the new city and preparing the public buildings for 
the reception of the government. It was necessary to devise 
ways and means for acquiring title to such land as should be 
needed for government purposes and for obtaining the funds 



History of the City of Washington. 39 

with which to erect the public buildings. Finally, it was neces- 
sary to determine upon the location and general plan of the 
city which was to be established within the federal territory. 
These matters demanded the personal attention of President 
Washington. The carrying out of such plans and methods of 
procedure as he should determine upon would rest in the main 
with the Commissioners to be appointed by him under the 
provisions of the Act. 

The first active steps by President Washington toward 
carrying the Residence Law into effect appear to have been 
taken in the course of a trip to Mount Vernon in the interim 
between sessions of Congress during the months of September, 
October and November, 1790. On this trip he was accompanied 
by Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison. 

There can be little question that from the outset the Presi- 
dent had a very clear idea as to the general location for the 
federal territory upon which he expected to decide. He was 
not unfamiliar with the country to which Congress had con- 
fined his selection. Five years before the passage of the Act 
for establishing the seat of government he had organized the 
Potowmack Company* which was to improve the navigation of 
that river and its tributaries so that the products of the upper 
country could be brought down the Potomac to communication 
with deep water shipping at Georgetown. He believed that 
the point of junction of the upper river navigation with ocean 
going vessels was destined to be a great commercial center. 
This point was at or near Georgetown, and the probabilities 
are that he gave little serious consideration to any other local- 
ity than the vicinity of that port, although, as will appear, he 
did in fact make an investigation with respect to the claims of 
the regions about the Monocacy and Conogocheague Rivers. 

The President was greatly aided in his efforts by the fact 
that he was well acquainted with the prominent men residing 
near the Potomac within the limits prescribed by the Residence 
Act. Many of them had served under him in the Revolutionary 

♦The Potomac Route to the West, by Corra Bacon-Foster. Vol. 
15, Rec. Col. Hist. Soc. 



40 History of the City of Washington. 

Army, and others had been and were then associated with him 
in the affairs of the Potowmack Company. 

During the course of the President's visit to Mount Vernon 
he proceeded energetically to ascertain the sentiment of the 
land owners at various points along the Potomac with regard 
to concessions they were willing to make with a view to obtain- 
ing the establishment of the federal city in their respective 
neighborhoods. It is evident that even at this time the President 
had given much thought to the problem of making some arrange- 
ment with the owners of the land which would provide for the 
financing of the city by means of sales of lots to be platted 
from land which should be conveyed by the original proprietors 
to the public on terms very favorable to the latter. The sub- 
ject was in all probability much discussed between the 
President and Mr. Jefferson, for in a series of notes in Mr. 
Jefferson's handwriting of proceedings to be had under the 
Residence Act appears the following query: 

"When the President shall have made up his mind as 
to the spot for the town, would there be any impropriety, 
in his saying to the neighboring landholders 'I will fix 
the town here if you will join and purchase and give the 
lands ? ' They may well afford it from the increase of value 
it will give to their own circumjacent lands." 
Further on, going into the question of the legality of such 
a proceeding under the terms of the Residence Act, he says : 

"6. The completion of the work will depend on a supply 
of the means. These must consist either of future grants 
of money by Congress which it would not be prudent to 
count upon — of State grants — of private grants — or the 
conversion into money of lands ceded for public use which 
it is conceived the term ' use ' and the spirit and scope of 
the Act will justify. ' ' 

Having in mind this solution of the financial problem, the 
plan seems to have been early decided upon of playing the 
different localities against each other with a view to quickening 
among them a spirit of rivalry which should result in the most 
advantageous terms possible being granted to the public. On 
this point we again have the evidence of Mr. Jefferson's notes 
wherein he suggests: 



History of the City of Washington. 41 

"2. That the President inform himself of the several 
rival positions; leaving among them inducements to bid 
against each other in offers of land or money, as the location 
when completed by the survey will not be mutable by the 
President, it may be well to have the offers so framed as 
to become ipso facto absolute in favor of the U. S. on the 
event which they solicit." 

On their arrival at Georgetown, President Washington, 
Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison proceeded to ascertain the views 
of those owning property between Georgetown and the Eastern 
Branch. Two gentlemen in whom the President appears to 
have reposed considerable confidence were William Deakins and 
Benjamin Stoddert. Another was Charles Carroll. For the 
substance of the interviews with these gentlemen we are again 
indebted to Mr. Jefferson 's notes. He says : 

"In conversation with Mr. Carroll, Mr. Stoddert and 
Mr. Deakins they were properly impressed with the idea 
that if the present occasion of securing the Federal seat 
on the Potowmack should be lost, it could never more be 
regained, that it would be dangerous to rely on any aids 
from Congress, or the Assemblies of Virginia or Maryland, 
and that therefore measures should be adopted to carry 
the Residence Bill into execution without recourse to those 
bodies; and that the requisites were 1st land enough to 
place the public buildings on; and 2ndly money enough 
to build them, and to erect moreover about 20 good dwell- 
ing houses for such persons belonging to the Government 
as must have houses to themselves, about as many good 
lodging houses, and half a dozen taverns. 

' ' To obtain this sum, this expedient was suggested to them. 
To procure a declaration from the proprietors of those 
spots of land most likely to be fixed for the town, that if 
the President's location of the town should comprehend 
their lands, they would give them up for the use of the 
U. S. on condition they should receive the double of their 
value, estimated as they would have been had there been 
no thought of bringing the federal seat into their neighbor- 
hood. It was supposed that 1500 acres would be required 
in the whole, to-wit, about 300 acres for public buildings, 
walks, etc., and 1200 acres to be divided into quarter acre 
lots, which, due allowance being made for streets, would 
make about 2000 lots, the vacant lots in Georgetown now 



42 History of the City of Washington. 

sell at £200, those of Alexandria at £600. Suppose those 
of the new town should bring only £100 clear this would 
produce £200,000 a sum adequate to the objects before men- 
tioned. It was further supposed that the Assembly of 
Maryland would interpose to force the consent of infant 
or obstinate proprietors for a reasonable compensation. 

' ' It was also suggested as a more certain means of ensuring 
the object, that each proprietor within the whole ten miles 
square should cede one-half his lands to the public, to be 
sold to raise money; perhaps this would be pushing them 
too far for the reputation of the new government they were 
to come under, and further than is necessary when we 
consider the sum which may be raised by the sale of lots, 
the donation of 120,000 dollars by Virginia, and the possi- 
ble donation of an equal sum by Maryland; at least it 
might show a commendable moderation not to push this 
proposition until experiment should prove the other 
resources inadequate ; great zeal appeared in the gentlemen 
before mentioned, and they seemed to approve the proposi- 
tion for the 1500 acres; that for a moiety of all the lands 
within the ten miles square was hazarded only to Mr. Carroll ; 
they will probably proceed immediately to make the best 
arrangements practicable and to come forward with them 
to the President." 

After visiting with the President at Mount Vernon, Mr. 
Jefferson and Mr. Madison appear to have visited with General 
Stevens Thomson Mason, who then owned and resided on 
Analostan Island, such at least being the probable identity of 
the person referred to in Mr. Jefferson's account of their visit 
in a letter to President Washington written from Fredericks- 
burg, Va., on September 17, 1790, wherein he says: 

"Sir: In the course of the visit we made the day we left 
Mount Vernon we drew our host into conversation on the 
subject of the federal seat. He came into it with a shyness 
not usual in him. Whether this proceeded from his 
delicacy as having property adjoining Georgetown or from 
what other motive I cannot say. He quitted the subject 
always as soon as he could. He said enough however to 
show his decided preference of Georgetown. He men- 
tioned shortly in its favor these circumstances : 1. Its being 
at the junction of the upper and lower navigation where 
the commodities must be transferred into other vessels : 



History of the City of Washington. 43 

(and here he was confident that no vessel could be con- 
trived which could pass the upper shoals and live in the 
wide waters below his island). 2. The depth of water 
which would admit any vessels that could come to Alex- 
andria. 3. Narrowness of the river and consequent safe- 
ness of the harbour. 4. Its being clear of ice as early at 
least as the canal and river above would be clear. 5. Its 
neighborhood to the Eastern Branch whither any vessels 
might conveniently withdraw which should be detained 
through the winter. 6. Its defensibility, as derived from 
the high and commanding hills around it. 7. Its actual 
possession of the com m erce and the start it already has. 

"Hie spoke of Georgetown always in comparison with 
Alexandria. When led to mention the Eastern Branch he 
spoke of it as an admirable position, superior in all respects 
to Alexandria." 

Not feeling justified in confining his attention to the vicin- 
ity of Georgetown and the Eastern Branch, President Wash- 
ington later took a trip up the river for the purpose of 
investigating the advantages of the various available sites in 
that region. The Georgetown newspapers of October 26, 1790, 
state that the previous Friday President Washington had 
arrived in town and that in company with the principal gentle- 
men of the town he had set out to view the adjacent country 
in order to fix upon a future situation for "the Grand 
Columbian Federal City," and that he left on Saturday for 
the Great Falls and Conogocheague. In this work he enlisted 
the services of Francis Deakins, the brother of Col. William 
Deakins, whom he commissioned to make a plat of the lands in 
the neighborhood of the Monocacy and the Conogocheague and 
to obtain such propositions as the land owners might see fit 
to put forward. Mr. Deakins reported the results of his efforts 
in the following letter to the President at Mount Vernon : 

"Monocacy, November 12th, 1790. 
' ' Sir : I now enclose you a draft of the Lands you viewed 
about this place, with the offers the proprietors has made 
for the use of the public buildings, etc. You'l please to 
Consider our neighbours as retired Industrious planters 
having no income but the produce of their farms ; not more 
than a moderate Support for their families, as a Reason 
why they have not been more Liberal. 



44 History of the City of Washington. 

"I expected Mr. Williams to have sent me some papers 
and notes about the mouth of Conogocheague which has 
not come to hand, his Brother Genl. Williams was up im- 
mediately after you, who I suppose will make that return 
to you. 

"Having no assistance in laying down the plats — much 
other business on hand and a faint expectation of its 
possessing superior advantages to any other place, I hope 
will in some degree apologize for the roughness of it. 

"I have the honor to be Sir, 

Your most obedt Servt 

Francis Deakins." 

In the meantime Col. William Deakins had been active 
among the proprietors of the lands lying between Georgetown 
and the Eastern Branch with the result that on November 3rd he 
wrote from Georgetown to the President at Mount Vernon : 

' ' Sir : The day after you left this place we employed a 
Surveyor to lay down our Situations, but it has taken more 
time than we expected, to ascertain the Axact Quantity 
of Land held by each proprietor within the lines laid down. 
I expect on Sunday or Monday next to hand you the platt 
and proposals from the holders of the land. 
"I am, very respectfully, 

Sir, Your obdt Servt 

Will Deakins, Junr. " 

The proposal from the owners of the land to which Mr. 
Deakins referred was in the following language : 

"We, the subscribers, do hereby agree and oblige our- 
selves, our heirs, Executors and Administrators, to sell 
and make over by sufficient Deeds, in any manner which 
shall be directed by General Washington, or any person 
acting under him, and on such terms as he shall determine 
to be reasonable and just, any of the Lands which we 
possess in the vicinity of George-Town, for the uses of the 
Federal City provided the same shall be erected in the 
said vicinity. 

"Witness our hands this thirteenth day of October, 1790. 

Robt. Peter, for One hundred Acres, should so much 
of mine be tho't necessary. 

Thos. Beall of Geo. 



History of the City of Washington. 45 

Benj. Stoddert. 

Uriah Forrest. 

Will Deakins, Junr. 

John Stoddard, Any land on the north side of my 
meadow. 

J. M. Lingan, George Beall, Anthony Holmead. " 
Accompanying this proposal was a lengthy statement 
setting forth the merits of Georgetown as ag harbor and place 
of residence, the opening and closing of which recited : 

"The object of the subscribers to the paper annexed, is 
to accommodate, — they will cheerfully consent to any other 
arrangement, that may be thought reasonable, should their 
Lands, or any part of them, be selected for the Federal 
City. 

' ' They are induced to make the offer of their Lands under 
the idea that if the Federal City should be erected on 
navigation, no place in the small distance from the mouth 
of the Eastern Branch, to the highest Tide water, offers 
so many advantages and that to none there can be so few 
solid objections, as to George Town and its immediate 
vicinity. 



"The subscribers cannot but be of opinion (and where 
their observations are just, they will not bear less weight 
for coming from men interested) that the speediest means 
of extending the town all over and between the Country 
between Georgetown and the Eastern Branch, would be, 
to erect the Federal Buildings adjacent to George-Town — 
in such an event no doubts could be entertained of the rapid 
improvement of the City and Country around it. — No build- 
ings would be omitted in consequence of apprehensions that 
the Seat of Government might not after all be on 
Potowmak, for all men would be satisfied that if disappoint- 
ed in this favorite object, their improvements would still 
afford them ample compensation for their expenses, from 
being in a large Commercial Town." 

The plat which had been prepared for the proprietors as 
mentioned by Mr. Deakins was probably one by Beatty and 
Orme, reference to which will later be found in President Wash- 
ington's correspondence with Messrs. Stoddert and Deakins. 

The President appears to have requested of Mr. Deakins 



46 History of the City of Washington. 

to procure an extension of this plat to include Georgetown and 
to have taken up with the proprietors the question of a con- 
veyance from them to the public on the basis of every third 
lot being reconveyed to the proprietors, for shortly after Mr. 
Deakins' letter of November 3d we find him writing to the 
President who was just about to start on his return to Phila- 
delphia : 

"Geo. Town, Novr. 18th, 1790. 
' ' Sir : I saw my brother a few days ago and he tells me 
he will have the Platts for the Situations above Lodged 
in my hands by Monday next, to be delivered on your way 
through this place and I will also have another platt of 
our situation with the Streets of Georgetown and its addi- 
tions Laid down for your Information. 

"If the second proposition of the proprietors should be 
preferred, that is for them to retain every third Lott in 
the Federal Town you may Extend the Limits to 3,000 As. 
' ; I am with every Sentiment of Respect and Esteem, 
Your obt servt, 

Will Deakins, Junr." 

While the negotiations with the proprietors of the land 
were going on the President was proceeding with the other 
duties imposed upon him by the Residence Act. One of those 
duties was the naming of the three Commissioners to carry on 
the work of preparing the new federal seat for the reception 
of the Government. Diverse considerations were to be weighed 
in this connection. On this subject Mr. Jefferson's notes are 
again a source of valuable information and throw much light 
upon the considerations by which the President was influenced 
in making his selection. 

With regard to the Commissioners to be appointed Mr. 
Jefferson says : 

"3. Commissioners to be appointed. 
"I suppose them not entitled to any salary. 
" (If they live near the place, they may, in some instances, 
be influenced by self interest, and partialities; but they 
will push the work with zeal ; if they are from a distance 
and northwardly, they will be more impartial, but may 
affect delays.) " 



History of the City of Washington. 47 

Further on he continues : 

"The act for establishing the temporary and permanent 
seat of Government of the U. States requires the follow- 
ing steps for carrying the latter into effect. 

' ' 1. The appointment of three Commissioners of sufficient 
respectability having good will to the general object with- 
out any particular bias of private interest.* 

"Should it be advisable after securing a majority near 
at hand to make an appointment with a view to attach 
particular parts of the Union to the object. N. England 
particularly Massachusetts, first occurs — and next, S. Caro- 
lina and Georgia. Mr. Ellicot (Mr. Gorum, Mr. Bull) Mr. 
Fitzhugh (of Chatham) Mr. 0. Wolcott, Mr. Tucker, Mr. 

Lloyd (of Annapolis), Mr _ of R. I., Mr. 

Baldwin, Rev'd. Mr. Lee Massey." 
And again : 

"The Commissioners should have some taste in Archi- 
tecture, because they may have to decide between different 
plans. 

"They will however be subject to the President's direc- 
tion in every point." 

The result of the President's deliberations was the selec- 
tion of Thomas Johnson, Daniel Carroll and David Stuart, and 
the issuance of a commission to them in the following form : 

"(Seal) George Washington, President of the United 
States. 

' ' To all who shall see these presents, Greetings : 
"Know ye, that reposing special trust and confidence in 
the integrity, skill, and diligence of Thos. Johnson and 
Daniel Carroll, of Maryland, and David Stuart, of Vir- 
ginia, I do, in pursuance of the powers vested in me by 
the act entitled 'An Act for establishing the temporary 
and permanent seat of the Government of the United 
States, approved July 16, 1790, hereby appoint them, the 
said Thomas Johnson, Daniel Carroll, and David Stuart, 

*Quer. If local situation or interest be an objection outweighing 
the advantage of proximity and zeal for the object, as the President 
is to prescribe the place and the comiss, only to define the district, 
and as the subsequent discretion in the Comiss, will give no oppor- 
tunity of sacrificing their trust to local considerations. The essential 
point seems to be that the Commission's be filled by men who prefer 
residing (a majority at least) so conveniently to the scene of business 
as to be able to attend readily and gratis. 



48 History of the City of Washington. 

commissioners for surveying the district of territory 
accepted by the said act for the permanent seat of the 
Government of the United States, and for performing such 
other offices as by law are directed, with full authority for 
them, or any two of them, to proceed therein according to 
law, and to have and to hold the said office, with all the 
powers, privileges, and authorities to the same of right 
appertaining each of them, during the pleasure of the Presi- 
dent of the United States for the time being. 

"In testimony whereof I have caused these letters to be 
made patent and the seal of the United States thereto 
affixed. 

"Given under my hand at the city of Philadelphia, the 
twenty-second day of January, in year of our Lord one 
thousand seven hundred and ninety-one and of the Inde- 
pendence of the United States the fifteenth. 

George Washington. 
By the President : 
^ Thomas Jefferson." 

Thomas Johnson was a resident of Frederick, Maryland, 
and an old friend of President Washington. Prior to the 
Revolutionary War he had been interested with the latter in 
the project of rendering the upper Potomac and its tributaries 
navigable by a series of improvements in the channel and the 
construction of canals around the Great and Little Falls. As 
one of the Representatives of the State of Maryland in the 
Continental Congress he had nominated Washington to be Com- 
mander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and he had later 
served under General Washington in the Army. After the 
Revolutionary War he had taken an active part with Washing- 
ton in reviving the project of improving the navigation 
of the Potomac, and after the organization of the Potowmack 
Company for that purpose in 1785, had given special attention 
to the supervision of the work which the company undertook. 
He had been the Governor of his State, and at the time of his 
appointment as Commissioner was its Chief Justice. Shortly 
after his appointment as Commissioner, President Washington 
appointed him to the Supreme Court of the United States to 
take the seat vacated by Mr. Rutledge. He continued to serve 



History of the City of Washington. 49 

as Commissioner while holding his place on the Supreme Bench. 
He was of a brusque, impetuous temperament, and was strong- 
ly addicted to swearing, though he is spoken of as generous and 
warm hearted. 

President Washington probably was moved by a number 
of considerations to name Mr. Johnson as one of the Commis- 
sioners. He knew that the latter 's residence near the location 
of the new city and his interest in the Potowmack Company 
would give him a strong incentive to push the development of 
the city. He knew from observation of Mr. Johnson's efforts 
in directing the work of the Potowmack Company that he was 
a man of great energy and executive capacity. He knew him 
to be an astute lawyer, thoroughly grounded in the Maryland 
laws and he doubtless anticipated that such a man would be 
invaluable as legal adviser to the Commission and particularly 
in preparing the conveyances which would be required in carry- 
ing out his scheme for acquiring the site for the proposed city 
and in drafting such legislation as would be needed to facilitate 
the work of the Commission. 

Daniel Carroll was a resident of Carroll Springs, Montgom- 
ery County, Maryland. He was born at Upper Marlboro, and 
with his brother John Carroll had received a finished education 
abroad. His brother entered the priesthood and later became 
the first Catholic Bishop of Baltimore and the founder of 
Georgetown Academy — afterwards Georgetown University. 

Daniel Carroll had been a member of the Continental Con- 
gress and of the Constitutional Convention and at the time of 
his appointment as Commissioner was a member of the United 
States House of Representatives from Maryland. On this account 
he declined to accept the appointment as Commissioner until 
the expiration of his term in Congress on March 4, 1791, when 
a new Commission was sent him. He was commonly spoken of 
as Daniel Carroll of Rock Creek to distinguish him from Daniel 
Carroll of Duddington. 

David Stuart was President Washington 's family physician, 
and a resident of Alexandria, Va. He had married the widow 
of John Parke Custis, the son of the President's wife. He had 



50 History of the City of Washington. 

long been the trusted advisor of President Washington whose 
correspondence during the early years of his presidency contains 
numerous letters to Dr. Stuart explaining the President's atti- 
tude on public questions, inquiring as to the state of public 
opinion and soliciting the Doctor's views and advice. In a sense 
the Doctor may be regarded as having been the President's 
personal representative in the Commission. 

The Commission was directed to Mr. Carroll with a letter 
notifying him of his appointment. A similar letter was sent 
to the other appointees. These letters are in the handwriting 
of Mr. Jefferson by whom they were probably prepared. That 
to Mr. Carroll reads: 

"Philadelphia, January 24th, 1791. 

' ' Dear Sir : The President of the United States desirous 
of availing himself of your assistance in preparing the 
federal seat on the Potomac is in hopes you will act as one 
of the Commissioners directed by the Law for that pur- 
pose. I have the honor now to enclose a joint commission 
for yourself and two others, together with a copy of the 
Proclamation meant to constitute your first direction. The 
President will from time to time communicate such further 
directions as circumstances shall call for. 

"I have the honor to be with great esteem. Dear Sir, 
Your most obt and most h'ble servt. 

Honorable Daniel Carroll." 

The organization of the Commission as a whole was 
delayed owing to the doubt expressed by Mr. Carroll as to his 
qualifications for the position during his term as Congressman. 
Mr. Jefferson, however, wrote to the other two, calling atten- 
tion to the provision in the law which authorized two Com- 
missioners to act and they took steps looking to the organization 
of the Commission prior to Mr. Carroll's qualifying for the 
position. The first full meeting occurred on April 12, 1791. 

While the President was deciding upon the selection of the 
Commissioners he was devoting much thought to the deter- 
mination of the exact location, extent and outlines of the terri- 
tory not exceeding ten miles square within which the Federal 
City was to be located. 



History of the City of Washington. 51 

As to the question of extent, the probabilities are that Presi- 
dent Washington at no time gave serious consideration to the 
acquisition of less than the full quantity of land allowed by 
the Residence Act, though Mr. Jefferson was for a time at least 
disposed to regard an area five miles each way as sufficient. 
Both President Washington and Mr. Jefferson, however, quickly 
perceived the extreme desirability of including both shores of 
the Eastern Branch, Mr. Jefferson going so far as to strongly 
advocate the inclusion of Bladensburg, which at that time was 
an important point for the shipment of tobacco. President 
Washington was also desirous of including the town of Alex- 
andria. 

The difficulty in carrying out this plan was the provision 
in the Residence Act requiring the federal territory to be locat- 
ed above the Eastern Branch. A means of surmounting this 
difficulty was, however, soon devised and is set forth by Mr. 
Jefferson in his notes on the Federal City, where, in his enumer- 
ation of the steps to be taken under the Residence Act he 
includes : 

"3. That the President direct the Survey of the District 
which he shall ultimately elect. It seems essential that the 
District should comprehend the water adjoining the estab- 
lishment and eligible that it should comprehend the oppo- 
site shore. The legality of this seems to be decided by the 
clause confining the purchase or acceptance of land for 
the use of the U. S. 'to the East side of the river within 
the said district' which imply that the whole district was 
not necessarily to be on that side. Quer : whether it will not 
be convenient to accept in the first instance so much less 
than ten miles square as will allow places to be afterwards 
taken in, which may not now be obtainable, or it may not 
be prudent now to accept." 

Further on in a series of queries he suggests the solution 
which was eventually adopted. He asks : 

"Would it not be well if a position below the little falls 
should be decided on, to begin the ten miles just above 
the commencement of the canal ; and accept from Mary- 
land, for the present, only from thence down to the Eastern 
Branch, supposed about seven miles; and to accept from 
Virginia ten miles beginning at the lower end of Alexandria, 



52 History of the City of Washington. 

and running up as far as it will extend, which probably 
will be as far up as the commencement of the Maryland 
side this being accepted, and professedly (as to Maryland) 
in part only of their session, when Congress shall meet they 
may pass an amendatory bill authorizing the President to 
compleat his acceptance from Maryland by crossing the 
Eastern Branch and compleating the ten miles in that 
direction, which will bring the lower boundary on the 
Maryland side very nearly opposite to that on the Virginia 
side — it is understood that the breadth of the territory 
accepted will be of five miles only on each side." 
The plan outlined by Mr. Jefferson in being put into 
operation was modified in that instead of limiting the sides of 
the territory to five miles and locating the territory below the 
Little Falls, the sides were given the full length of ten miles 
allowed by the law and the territory made to extend a consider- 
able distance above the Little Falls. Conformably to this plan 
President Washington on January 24, 1791, issued his proclama- 
tion announcing the location of one part of the district by 
running as "lines of experiment" the lines which he expected 
would constitute the boundaries of the District when finally 
designated. 

The text of this proclamation follows : 

"By the President op the United States of America. 
A PROCLAMATION. 

' ' Whereas the General Assembly of the State of Maryland, 
by an Act passed on the 23d day of December, 1788, 
entitled, 'An Act to cede to Congress a district of ten miles 
square in this State - for the seat of Government of the 
United States,' did enact, that the representatives of the 
said State in the House of Representatives of the Congress 
of the United States, appointed to assemble at New York 
on the first Wednesday of March then next ensuing, should 
be, and they were thereby, authorized and required, on 
the behalf of the said State, to cede to the Congress of the 
United States any district in the said State not exceeding 
ten miles square, which the Congress might fix upon and 
accept for the seat of Government of the United States. 

"And the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 
Virginia, by an act passed on the 3rd day of December, 



History of the City of Washington. 53 

1789, and entitled 'An act for the cession of ten miles 
square, or any lesser quantity of territory within this State, 
to the United States in Congress assembled, for the perma- 
nent seat of the General Government,' did enact, that a 
tract of country not exceeding ten square miles, or any lesser 
quantity, to be located within the limits of the said State, 
and in any part thereof, as Congress might by law direct, 
should be and the same was thereby forever ceded and 
relinquished to the Congress and Government of the United 
States, in full and absolute right, and exclusive jurisdiction, 
as well of soil as of persons residing or to reside thereon, 
pursuant to the tenor and effect of the eighth section of 
the first article of the Constitution of Government of the 
United States: 

"And the Congress of the United States, by their act 
passed the 16th day of July, 1790, and entitled 'An act 
for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of the 
Government of the United States,' authorized the President 
of the United States to appoint three commissioners to 
survey under his direction, and by proper metes and 
bounds to limit a district of territory not exceeding ten 
miles square on the river Potomac, at some place between 
the mouth of the Eastern Branch and Conogocheague, which 
district, so to be located and limited, was accepted by the 
said Act of Congress as the district for the permanent seat 
of the Government of the United States. 

"Now, therefore, in pursuance of the powers to me confid- 
ed, and after duly examining and weighing the advantages 
and disadvantages of the several situations within the 
limits aforesaid, I do hereby declare and make known that 
the location of one part of the said district of ten miles 
square shall be found by running four lines of experiment 
in the following manner, that is to say: Running from the 
court house of Alexandria, in Virginia, due southwest half 
a mile, and thence a due southeast course till it shall strike 
Hunting Creek, to fix the beginning of the said four lines of 
experiment. 

' ' Then beginning the first of the said four lines of exper- 
iment at the point on Hunting Creek, where the said 
southeast course shall have struck the same, and running 
the said first line due northwest ten miles ; thence the second 
into Maryland, due northeast ten miles; thence the third 
line due southeast ten miles; and thence the fourth line 
due southwest ten miles, to the beginning on Hunting Creek. 



54 History of the City of Washington. 

"And the said four lines of experiment being so run, I 
do hereby declare and make known that all that part within 
the said four lines of experiment which shall be within the 
State of Maryland, and above the Eastern Branch, and all 
that part within the same four lines of experiment which 
shall be within the Commonwealth of Virginia, and above 
a line to be run from the point of land forming the Upper 
Cape of the mouth of the Eastern Branch due southwest, 
and no more, is now fixed upon, and directed to be surveyed, 
defined, limited, and located for a part of the said district 
accepted by the said Act of Congress for the permanent 
seat of the Government of the United States; hereby 
expressly reserving the direction of the survey and location 
of the remaining part of the said district, to be made 
hereafter contiguous to such part or parts of the present 
location as is or shall be agreeably to law. 

"And I do accordingly direct the said commissioners, 
appointed agreeably to the tenor of the said Act, to proceed 
forthwith to run the said lines of experiment, and, the same 
being run, to survey and, by proper metes and bounds, to 
define and limit the part within the same which is herein- 
before directed for immediate location and acceptance, and 
thereof to make due report to me under their hands and 
seals. 

"In testimony whereof I have caused the seal of the 
United States to be affixed to these presents, and signed the 
same with my hand. Done at the city of Philadelphia the 
24th day of January, in the year of our Lord 1791, and of 
the Independence of the United States the fifteenth. 

George Washington. 

By the President: 

Thomas Jefferson. ' ' 

The President, having had a number of these proclamations 
printed, sent them to Messrs. Stoddert and Deakins, with the 
following letter requesting the publication of them: 

' ' Gentlemen : I enclose you several proclamations 
expressing the lines which are to bound the District of ten 
miles square for the permanent seat of the General Govern- 
ment, which I wish you to have made public with all 
expedition, and in the most general and extensive manner 
that you can to prevent any kind of 'speculation, let them 
be published in the newspapers — put up in public places 



History of the City of Washington, 55 

and otherwise so disposed as to answer my object as fully 
as possible. The proclamations are this moment struck off 
and the mail is about to be closed, which prevents me from 
adding more at this time; but I shall write you more fully 
upon this subject in a few days. 

I am, sir, Your most obt servt, 

George Washington. 

United States, January 24, 1791." 

This proclamation the President sent to Congress with the 
following letter suggesting the enactment of a law so amending 
the Residence Act as to permit him to carry out the object 
sought : 

"Gentlemen: In execution of the powers with which 
Congress were pleased to invest me by their act entitled, 'An 
Act for establishing the temporary and permanent seat of 
the Government of the United States' and on mature 
consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of the 
several positions within the limits prescribed by the said 
Act I have, by a proclamation bearing date this day 
directed Commissioners, appointed in pursuance of the Act, 
to survey and limit a part of the territory of ten miles 
square on both sides of the river Potomac so as to compre- 
hend Georgetown in Maryland and to extend to the Eastern 
Branch. I have not by this first act given to the said 
territory the whole extent of which it is susceptible in the 
direction of the river; because I thought it important that 
Congress should have an opportunity of considering whether 
by an amendatory law they would authorize the location of 
the residue at the lower end of the present location so as 
to comprehend the Eastern Branch itself and some of the 
country on its lower side in the State of Maryland, and 
the town of Alexandria in Virginia; if however they should 
think that the federal territory should be bounded by the 
water edge of the Eastern Branch, the location of the 
residue will be to be made at the upper end of what is 
now directed. A copy of the proclamation is inclosed for 
your more particular information. I have thought it best 
to await a survey of the territory before it is decided in 
what part of it the public buildings shall be erected." 
The result of the President's request was the passage by 
Congress of an amendatory Act, approved March 3, 1791, 
repealing so much of the original Residence Act "as requires 



56 History of the City of Washington. 

that the whole of the district or territory, not exceeding ten 
miles square shall be located above the mouth of the Eastern 
Branch," and making it lawful "for the President to make 
any part of the territory below the said limit, and above the 
mouth of Hunting Creek, a part of the said district, so as to 
include a convenient part of the Eastern Branch, and of the 
lands on the lower side thereof, and also the town of Alexandria. ' ' 
The Act closed with a proviso to the effect that nothing therein 
contained should authorize the erection of the public buildings 
otherwise than on the Maryland side of the river Potomac. 

Previous to the passage of this Act steps had been taken 
looking to a survey of the ten miles square. 

On February 1st, 1791, President Washington wrote to Mr. 
Jefferson : 

"Tuesday Evening. 
"My dear Sir: Nothing in the enclosed letter superceding 
the necessity of Mr. Ellicott's proceeding to the work in 
hand I would thank you, for requesting him, to set out 
on Thursday ; or as soon after as he can make it convenient : 
Also for preparing such instructions as you may conceive 
it necessary for me to give him for ascertaining the points 
we wish to know; first, for the general view of things and 
next for the more accurate and final decision. 
Yrs. Sincerely and affly., 

Gieorge, "Washington. ' ' 
Pursuant to this request Mr. Jefferson wrote to Major 
Ellieott "to proceed by the first stage to the Federal Territory 
on the Potomac for the purpose of making a survey of it. ' ' 

Andrew Ellieott* was a native of Pennsylvania, born Janu- 
ary 24, 1754, and was consequently just entering his thirty- 
eighth year when this commission was given him. He had served 
in the Revolutionary Army, rising to the rank of Major. At the 
time of his appointment to the task of surveying the Federal 
Territory he had just come from the completed surveys of 
boundary lines of the great central states of New York, 
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, in most of which 
important and responsible work he was chosen Commissioner 

*Life of Andrew Ellieott, by Sallie K. Alexander — Reeds. Col. 
Hist. Soc. Vol. 2. 



History of the City of Washington. 57 

as well as astronomer and surveyor. The determination of the 
west boundary of the State of New York, it being the limit of 
the Massachusetts claim and a subject of National import was 
made by him pursuant to a joint resolution of the old and the 
new Congress, under the direction of President Washington. 
From this duty Maj. Ellicott came to the Federal District, 
directly in the line of his continuing official duty as Geographer 
General, and not as one engaged for the occasion. 

On February 14, Major Ellicott arrived in Alexandria and 
wrote his wife : 

"I have been treated with great politeness by the 
inhabitants, who are truly rejoiced at the prospect of being 
included in the Federal district. I shall leave this town 
this afternoon to begin the rough survey of the ten miles 
square. ' ' 

On the same day he wrote Mr. Jefferson telling him of the 
progress of his work, ending with the lines : 

"You will observe by the plan which I have suggested 

for the permanent location a small deviation with respect 

to the courses from those mentioned in the proclamation. 

The reason of which is that the courses in the proclamation 

strictly adhered to would neither produce straight lines 

nor contain quite the ten miles square besides the almost 

impossibility of running such lines with tolerable exactness. 

Major Ellicott was assisted in the work of laying off the 

Federal Territory by Messrs. Briggs and Fenwick, his brother 

Benjamin Ellicott, and the negro astronomer and mathematician, 

Benjamin Banneker, a free negro who had already attracted the 

attention of Washington and Jefferson by his wonderful 

mathematical ability. He was a protege of Major Ellicott and 

of his father, Joseph Ellicott. His knowledge of the exact 

sciences Avas remarkable, and he was able on a number of 

occasions to indicate errors in the "Nautical Almanac" which 

had before passed unnoticed. 

Major Ellicott had at first little appreciation of the site 
that had been selected for the Federal Territory, a letter to his 
wife during the period ending: 

"The country intended for the Permanent Residence of 



58 History of the City of. Washington. 

Congress, bears no more proportion to the country about 
Philadelphia and German-Town, for either wealth or 
fertility, than a crane does to a stall-fed Ox ! " 

In order to provide for Major Ellicott 's expenses the 
President, pursuant to a previous understanding, wrote to 
Thomas Beall, the Mayor of Georgetown, as follows: 

"Philadelphia, February 3d, 1791. 
"Sir: In consequence of your letter of the 26th of 
January to Daniel Carroll, Esquire, informing him that 
the order of the President of the United States upon you 
as Mayor of Georgetown, would be paid on sight, I have 
to request that you will answer the demands of Andrew 
Ellicott, Esquire, within the sum of fifty guineas, as he may 
have occasion to make them without further advice from 
Your most obedient servant, 

Georgei "Washington. ' ' 

In the meantime Major Pierre Charles L' Enfant had been 
selected by the President to make a preliminary survey of the 
site of the proposed city. About the first of March, the letter 
bearing date, merely March, 1791, Mr. Jefferson wrote to Major 
L 'Enfant as follows: 

"Sir: You are desired to proceed to Georgetown where 
you will find Mr. Ellicott employed in making a survey 
and maps of the Federal Territory. The special object of 
asking your aid is to have the drawings of the particular 
grounds most likely to be approved for the site of the 
Federal town and buildings. You will therefore be pleased 
to begin on the Eastern Branch and proceed from thence 
upwards, laying down the hills, valleys, morasses, and 
waters between that, the Potomac, the Tyber, and the road 
leading from Georgetown to the Eastern Branch, and 
connecting the whole with certain fixed points on the maps 
Mr. Ellicott is preparing. Some idea of the height of the 
lands above the base on which they stand would be desirable. 
For necessary assistance and expenses be pleased to apply 
to the Mayor of Georgetown who is written to on this sub- 
ject. I will beg the favour of you to mark to me your 
progress about twice a week, by letter, say every Wednesday 
and Saturday evening, that I may be able in proper time 



History of the City of Washington. 59 

to draw your attention to some other objects which I have 
not at this moment sufficient information to define. 
"I am with great esteem, Sir, 

Your most obedient humble sevt., 

Th. Jefferson. 

Majr L 'Enfant." 

Major L 'Enfant had come to America in the fall of 1777, 
with Monsieur Ducoudray. He was promoted to a Captaincy 
of Engineers, February 18, 1778,. and after the war granted the 
rank of major by brevet on his own application. He had been 
wounded at the siege of Savannah and made a prisoner at 
Charleston. He is stated to have been born in France, August 
2, 1755. He would thus have been only twenty-two years of 
age on his coming to this country — scarcely old enough to have 
had any engineering experience — and thirty-six at the time of 
his employment on the Federal City. Subsequent to the 
Revolution he lived for a time with the Calverts, near Marlboro, 
Maryland. Going back to France on a mission connected with 
the Order of Cincinnati and again returning to America he 
obtained employment as an architect in the reconstruction of 
the building at New York for the meeting of the first Federal 
Congress. He is described as fully six feet tall erect and of 
a military bearing, with a finely proportioned figure and 
prominent nose. 

The work of L 'Enfant in connection with the remodeling 
of the New York Capitol building had come to the notice of 
President "Washington. His attention had been further drawn 
to the French Engineer by a direct application by the latter 
for appointment to the task of laying out the new Federal city. 
In making this application, L 'Enfant had taken time by the 
forelock, as the Act fixing the site on the Potomac was not 
passed until nearly ten months later. 

In his letter, which bore date September 11, 1789, in which, 
from the quality of the English employed, he doubtless had the 
aid of an amenuensis, as his other letters display a very defective 
knowledge of the idiomatic nature of the English language, he 
said: 



60 History of the City of Washington. 

"The late determination of Congress to lay the founda- 
tion of a city, which is to become the Capital of this vast 
empire, offers so great an occasion of acquiring reputation 
to whoever may be appointed to conduct the execution of 
the business that your excellency will not be surprised that 
my ambition and the desire I have of becoming a useful 
citizen should lead me to wish a share in the undertaking. 
"No nation, perhaps, had ever before the opportunity 
offered them of deliberately deciding on the spot where 
their capital city should be fixed or of combining every 
necessary consideration in the choice of situation, and 
although the means now within the power of the country 
are not such as to pursue the design to any great extent 
it will be obvious that the plan should be drawn on such 
a scale as to leave room for the aggrandizement and 
embellishment which the increase of the wealth of the 
nation will permit it to pursue at any period, however 
remote. Viewing the matter in this light, I am fully 
sensible of the extent of the undertaking, and under the 
hope of a continuance of the indulgence you have hitherto 
honored me with I now presume to solicit the favor of being 
employed in this business." 

The letter continued with a recommendation that the 
preparation of a system of coast fortifications be at once 
commenced and a request for appointment to the Engineer 
Corps where he could engage in the fortification work as well 
as in such work of a civil character as might require his 
attention. 

Concerning the arrival at Georgetown of Majors Ellicott 
and L 'Enfant, the Georgetown "Weekly Ledger of March 12, 
1791, says : 

"Some time last month arrived in this town Major 
Andrew Ellicott, a gentleman of superior astronomical 
abilities. He was appointed by the President of the United 
States to lay off a tract of land ten miles square on the 
Potomac for the use of Congress. He is now engaged in 
this business and hopes soon to accomplish the object of 
his mission. He is attended by Benjamin Banniker, an 
Ethiopian, whose abilities as a surveyor and astronomer 
clearly prove that Mr. Jefferson's concluding that race of 
men were void of mental endowments was without 
foundation. 



History of the City of Washington. 61 

"Wednesday evening arrived in this town Major Long- 
font a French gentleman employed by the President of the 
United States to survey the lands contiguous to Georgetown 
where the Federal city is to be built. His skill in matters 
of this kind is justly extolled by all disposed to give merit 
its proper tribute of praise. He is earnest in the business 
and hopes to be able to lay a plat of that parcel of land 
before the President upon his arrival in this town. ' ' 
Major L 'Enfant wrote to Mr. Jefferson on March 11, 1791, 
reciting his arrival on the 9th and his review of the ground 
the following day, the Mayor of Georgetown having offered his 
assistance in procuring three or four men to attend him in the 
surveying. It is evident that even in this brief view of the 
ground he grasped many of the possibilities which it offered, 
for he says : 

"As far as I was able to judge through a thick fog I 
passed on many spots which appeared to me really beautiful 
and which seem to dispute with each other who command. 
In the most extensive prospect on the water the gradual 
rising of the ground from Carrollborough toward the Ferry 
Road, the level and extensive ground from there to the bank 
of the Potomac as far as Goose Creek present a situation 
most advantageous to run streets and prolong them on 
grand and far distant point of view." 

Previous to Major L 'Enfant 's appointment, and while 
Major Ellicott was preparing to make his survey of the ten 
miles square President "Washington had been continuing his 
efforts to obtain suitable terms from the owners of such land 
as he deemed necessary for the Federal town. 

By this time it is evident that the President had come 
to the conclusion that little could be accomplished so long as 
he worked in the open to reach an agreement with the land 
owners, as the prospect of a speedy inflation of the values of 
their lands had aroused a degree of cupidity in the owners 
which no appeal to their public spirit was effective to counter- 
act. Accordingly he determined to abandon his tactics of direct 
approach and to endeavor to make terms with the proprietors 
through secret agents who should adopt the appearance of 
being engaged in a speculation of their own. For this purpose 



62 History of the City of Washington. 

he selected Messrs. Deakins and Stoddert who had acted for 
him before in making arrangements with the land owners. To 
these gentlemen he wrote from Philadelphia under date of 
February 3, 1791: 

"Philadelphia, February 3d, 1791. 
"Gentlemen: In asking your aid in the following case 
permit me at the same time to ask the most perfect secrecy. 
"The Federal Territory being located, the competition for 
the location of the town now rests between the mouth of 
the Eastern Branch and the lands on the river below and 
adjacent to Georgetown. 

"In favor of the former, Nature has furnished powerful 
advantages. In favor of the latter is its vicinity to George- 
town which puts it in the way of deriving aids from it in 
the beginning, and of communicating in return an increased 
value to the property of that town. These advantages have 
been so poised in my mind as to give it different tendencies 
at different times. There are lands which stand yet in the 
way of the latter location and which, if they could be 
obtained for the purposes of the town, would remove a 
considerable obstacle to it, and go near indeed to decide 
what has been so long on the balance with me. 

"These are, first, the lands on the S. West side of a line 
to be run from where the road crosses Goose Creek in 
going from Georgetown to the Eastern Branch to the 
corner of Charles Beatty's lot; including by the plat of 
Beatty and Orme the house of William Peerce; or if the 
whole of this parcel cannot be obtained, then secondly, so 
much as would lie within a line to be run from the said 
ford, or thereabouts, to the middle of the line of cession 
which extends from the corner of Beatty's lot, as above 
mentioned, to its termination on Goose Creek; thirdly, the 
lands of Mr. Carroll between Goose Creek, the river and 
Mr. Young, to the same ford of the creek. 

"The object of this letter is to ask you to endeavor to 
purchase these grounds of the owners for the public, 
particularly the second parcel, but as if for yourselves, 
and to conduct your propositions so as to excite no 
suspicion that they are on behalf of the public. 

"The circumstances of the funds appropriated by the 
States of Virginia and Maryland, will require that a twelve 
months credit be stipulated, in order that they may cover 
you from any inconvenience which might attend your 



History of the City of Washington. 63 

personal undertakings. As the price at which the lands 
can be obtained would have its weight also with me, I 
would wish that in making your bargains you should reserve 
to yourselves a fortnight's time to consider, at the end of 
which you should be free to be off or on, but the seller 
not so. This will admit your writing to me and receiving 
my definitive answer. 

"A clear purchase is so preferable to every other arrange- 
ment, that I should scarcely think any other worthy 
attention. 

"I am obliged to add that all the dispatch is requisite 
which can consist with the success of your operations, and 
that I shall be glad to hear by post of your progress, and 
prospect of the accomplishment of this business, in whole 
or part. 

"I am, Gentlemen, Your most Obe'd Hble, &c, 

George Washington. 

Messrs. Deakins and Stoddart. 

' ' P. S. — That my description of the lands required in the 

foregoing letter may be more clearly understood, and my 

wishes further explained, I enclose you a rough (and very 

rough indeed it is) copy of the ceded tracts, roads, etc., of 

Messrs. Beatty and Orme's Survey — adding thereto lines 

of augmentation. To obtain the lands included within the 

lines A, B and C is my first wish, and next to that the 

lands within the lines D, E and F; but those within the 

lines D, E, and along the Creek to G, are indispensably 

necessary; and being not over 250 acres might, I suppose, 

be easily obtained. It ought to be the first essay and I 

wish to know as soon as possible the result of it, before 

any others are directly attempted. G. W." 

It is difficult to gather from this letter the precise areas 

to which the President referred, the sketch to which it relates 

being apparently no longer in existence; yet it is evident that 

he was endeavoring to extend the limits of the proposed cessions 

as far as possible to the northeast. He had at the same time 

been making every effort through Deakins and Stoddert to 

acquire the land of David Burnes and other proprietors nearer 

Georgetown. These lands then appeared to be indispensable, 

owing to the unwillingness of the proprietors of the lands near 

the Eastern Branch to come to satisfactory terms. Accordingly 



64 History of the City of Washington. 

President Washington, on February 17th wrote to Deakins and 
Stoddert : 

' ' Gentlemen : I have received your favor of the 9th and 

11th inst. and shall be glad if the purchase from Burns 

should be concluded before you receive this at £18 or 

£12 — 10 as you choose, but as you mention that should he 

ask as far as £20 or £25, you will await further instructions 

before you accept such an offer. I have thought it better, 

in order to prevent delay, to inform you that I would wish 

his lands to be purchased even at those prices, rather than 

not obtain them." ^ 

Mr. Burnes, however, appears to have been obdurate, and 

the President resolved to adopt the tactics suggested in Mr. 

Jefferson's notes of "leaving them inducements to bid against 

each other." Accordingly the President wrote Messrs. Deakins 

and Stoddert on February 28th : 

' ' Gentlemen : If you have concluded nothing yet with 
Mr. Burns nor made him any offer for his land that is 
obligatory I pray you to suspend your negotiations with 
him until you hear further from me. 

"With much esteem, I am, Gen'n. Yrs. &c, 

G. W." 
Following this letter to Deakins and Stoddert, Mr. Jefferson 
about March 1st wrote his letter of instructions to Major 
L 'Enfant before quoted, directing him to "begin on the Eastern 
Branch and proceed from thence upwards," the purpose being 
to thereby convey to Mr. Burnes and the other proprietors having 
lands towards Georgetown the impression that it had been 
determined to locate the Federal buildings near the Eastern 
Branch. In explanation of these instructions to Major 
L 'Enfant the President on March 2nd wrote to Deakins and 
Stoddert for their private information as follows : 

"Philadelphia, March 2nd, 1791. 
"Gentlemen: Major L 'Enfant comes on to make such a 
survey of the grounds in your vicinity as may aid in fixing 
the site of the Federal town and buildings. His present 
instructions express those alone which are within the 
Eastern Branch, the Potomac, the Tiber, and the road 
leading from Georgetown to the ferry on the Eastern 
Branch; he is directed to begin at the lower end and work 
upwards, and nothing} further is communicated to him. 



History of the City of Washington. 65 

The purpose of this letter is to desire you will not be 
yourselves misled by this appearance, nor be diverted from 
the pursuit of the objects I have recommended to you. I 
expect that your progress in accomplishing them will be 
facilitated by the presumption which will arise on seeing 
this operation begun at the Eastern Branch, and that the 
proprietors nearer Georgetown who have hitherto refused 
to accommodate, will let themselves down to reasonable 
terms.* I have referred Maj. L 'Enfant to the Mayor of 
Georgetown for necessary aids and expenses. Should there 
be any difficulties on this subject, I would hope your aid 
in having them surmounted tho' I have not named you to 
him or anybody else, that no suspicion may be excited of 
your acting for the public. 

I am, gentlemen. 
(No signature on letter press copy.) 
Messieurs Stoddert and Deakins." 
At this point it is necessary to call attention to the fact 
that within the territory lying between Georgetown and the 
Eastern Branch were two unincorporated towns — known 
respectively as Hamburgh and Carrollsburgh. Hamburgh was 
a platted town laid out by Jacob Punk, and was known also 
as Funkftown. It contained 130 acres, subdivided into 287 lots, 
and was located with a frontage on the Potomac River, just 
above the mouth of what was then Goose or Tiber Creek. It 
was bounded on the north by a line about on the present location 
of H Street, northwest, on the east by a line about midway 
between the present locations of Eighteenth and Nineteenth 
Streets, west, and on the west by a line approximately on the 
line of the present location of Twenty-third Street, west. The 
plat is recorded at Marlborough, Maryland, under date of 
October 28, 1771. The land appears to have been purchased 
by Funk from Thomas Johns in 1765. 

*This communication will explain to you the motive to my request 
ia a letter of the 28th ulto. I now authorize the renewal of the negoti- 
ations with Mr. Burns agreeably to former powers at such time and 
in such a manner as, in your judgment, is likely to produce the 
desired effect. I will add however that if the lands described by the 
enclosed plat, within the red dotted line from A to C thence by the 
Tiber to D and along the North line to A can be obtained I shall be 
satisfied although I had rather go to the line A. B. 



66 History of the City of Washington. 

Carrollsburgh was located between the north bank of the 
Eastern Branch and James Creek. It was bounded on the north 
by a line from a point on James Creek a few feet north of the 
present N Street bridge over that stream to a point on the 
Eastern Branch about midway between the terminations of N 
and Streets, south. It contained approximately 160 acres, 
subdivided into 268 lots under terms of a deed of trust recorded 
at Marlborough, November 20, 1770. This deed runs from 
Charles Carroll, Jr., to Henry Rozier, Daniel Carroll and Notley 
Young, and authorized the grantees to subdivide Duddington 
Manor and Duddington Pasture, and to sell the lots except six, 
to be selected by the grantor, his heirs or assigns, and to draw 
the lots or cause them to be drawn for by ballot or lottery. 
The deeds of conveyance to the lots in Carrollsburgh, which are 
numerous, recite the fact that the lots had been drawn by the 
grantees respectively, in a lottery of the same. The drawing 
of lots by lottery was in accordance with a custom which at 
that time was quite prevalent. 

On his way to Philadelphia the preceding November, 
President Washington had requested Messrs. Deakins and 
Stoddert to make inquiries as to the ownership of the Hamburgh 
lots. The results of their investigation were set forth in the 
following letter to the President under date of December 9, 
1790: 

"Sir: Immediately after we had the honor of seeing 
you on your way to Philadelphia, we sent up to Jacob 
Funk in Washington County for a particular state of the 
situation of the lots in Hamburgh, and never till yesterday 
received his answer. 

"We find there are 287 lots laid out upon 130 acres of 
land and as far as we can judge from the book of sales 
kept by Funk which he sent us, the whole of the lots are 
in the hands of about 150 proprietors principally Dutchmen 
residing in Frederick and Washington Counties, and in 
Pennsylvania, who have heretofore held them in but reason- 
able estimation ; and we have reason to believe that the far 
greater part of them might now be purchased at little more 
than the original cost, which was five pounds each lot ; 
tho' there can be no doubt that if the seat of government 



History of the City of Washington. 67 

should be fixed so as to comprehend these lots, a much 
higher value would be instantly set upon them. And on 
this account we had once determined to commence an 
immediate purchase of them, meaning to accommodate the 
public without any private advantage, but we were deterred 
from carrying this into effect by the consideration, that if 
they should not be wanted by the public, they would remain 
a considerable loss on our hands. To leave nothing undone 
that we could consistently do, we are now making applica- 
tion to our Legislature through the delegates from this 
county for a law to pass condemning any land that may 
be chosen for the seat of government at the reasonable 
valuation of disinterested men, in cases where the proprietors 
will not agree to the terms offered, and where they reside 
at a distance — and, as like difficulties occur at almost every 
possible place on the river, we have no doubt such a law 
will pass, and we imagine in the course of next week, there 
being a disposition in the majority of both houses, to 
promote the residence on the Potomac. 

"We have the honor to be, with the highest respect and 
esteem Sir, Your most Obed. Servts., 

Will Deakins, Junr., 
Ben Stoddert." 

Coming to a consideration of the question of the Hamburgh 
lots the President, in his letter to Deakins and Stoddert of 
February 17, 1791, in which he urges them to purchase the lands 
of David Burnes, continues : 

"The Maryland Assembly has authorized a certain 
number of acres to be taken without the consent of the 
owners on making compensation as therein provided, this 
will be principally useful as to the old lots of Hamburgh. 
However by purchasing up these lots or as many as we can, 
we shall be free to take on the terms of the Act so much of 
any other lands in our way, and consequently those whose 
proprietors refuse all arrangement. I will therefore beg 
the favor of you to take measures immediately for buying 
up all the lots you can in Hamburgh on the lowest terms 
you can not exceeding the rate of twenty-five pounds the 
acre. I leave it to yourselves to dispatch a private agent 
for this purpose to treat with the proprietors wherever to 
be found, or to do it by any other means which in your 
discretion shall appear not too expensive and which may 



68 History of the City of Washington. 

not excite suspicions of their being on behalf of the public. 
I am, with great esteem, gentlemen, your most obd't humble 
serv't. (No signature on letter press copy.) 

Messrs. Deakins and Stoddert. ' ' 
A number of circumstances tend to indicate that at about 
this period the President's concern with regard to the import- 
ance of Hamburgh was accentuated by a strong inclination to 
make this the site of the principal Federal buildings. The 
President at this time was planning to stop at Georgetown in 
the course of a trip through the Southern States, and on the 
same day that the President wrote to Stoddert and Deakins 
with regard to the owners of lots in Hamburgh — Mr. Jefferson 
wrote to Major L 'Enfant to desist from his work on the Eastern 
Branch, if uncompleted, and prepare, for the inspection of the 
President on the occasion of his contemplated visit, a plan of 
the land in the neighborhood of Hamburgh. His letter, the 
postscript to which is particularly significant, reads : 

"Philadelphia, March 17, 1791. 
' ' Sir : Your favor of the 11th inst. has been duly received. 
Between the date of that and your receipt of the present, 
it is probable that the most important parts of the ground 
towards the Eastern Branch will have been delineated. 
However, whether they are or not, as the President will go 
on within two or three days, and would wish to have under 
his eye, when at Georgetown, a drawing also of the partic- 
ular lineaments of the ground between Rock Creek and 
Tyber, you are desired, immediately on the receipt of this, 
to commence the survey of that part, beginning at the 
river, and proceeding towards the parts back of that till 
his arrival. If the meanders of those two creeks and of 
the river between them should not have been before laid 
down either by yourself or by Mr. Ellicott, it is desired 
that Mr. Ellicott should immediately do this while you 
shall be employed on the interior ground, in order that the 
work may be as much advanced as profitable on the arrival 
of the President, and that you will be so good as to notify 
this to Mr. Ellicott. 

I am with great esteem sir, your most obedt humble servt. 

(No signature on letter press copy.) 
"P. S. — There are certainly considerable advantages on 
the Eastern Branch : but there are very strong reasons also 



History of the City of Washington. 69 

in favor of the position between Rock Creek and Tyber 
independent of the face of the ground. It is desired that 
the proper amount should be in equilibrio between those 
two places till the President arrives, and we shall be obliged 
to you to endeavor to poise their expectations. 
Major L 'Enfant." 

A further highly important item of evidence on this point 
is to be found in a document drawn by Mr. Jefferson preparatory 
to the President's departure from Philadelphia. This is a draft 
of the Proclamation which the President intended to issue after 
reaching Georgetown, setting forth the complete limits of the 
Federal Territory. At the close of this draft Mr. Jefferson 
added in brackets the following, which he said, being conjectural, 
would be rendered conformable to the ground when more 
accurately examined: 

"the highest summit of lands in the town heretofore called 
Hamburgh, within said territory, with a convenient extent 
of grounds circumjacent, shall be appropriated for a capitol 
for the accommodation of Congress, and such other lands 
-between Georgetown and the stream heretofore called the 
Tyber, as shall on due examination be found convenient 
and sufficient, shall be appropriated for the accommodation 
of the President of the U. S. for the time being, and for 
the public offices of the Government of the U. S." 

Accompanying this draft was a plan giving an accurate 
illustration of Mr. Jefferson's ideas regarding the proposed city 
as it would be if located in accordance with the quoted portion 
of the draft. This plan showed the town facing south and 
extending along the north bank of the mouth of Tiber Creek 
with the President's house located on Observatory Hill and 
the Capitol about at the present location of the White House 
or Treasury Department. 

At the mouth of Tiber Creek was the note: "no water 
here for commerce and a fine open prospect for those attached 
to the government." Along the shore between Tiber Creek and 
Rock Creek was the notation : ' ' This part will suit merchants 
because of the depth of water." On the stretch of land lying 
on the Potomac below Tiber Creek and extending toward 



70 History of the City of Washington. 

Young's (now Arsenal) Point was remarked: "To be laid off 
in future." 

In a letter to Major L 'Enfant of April 4, 1791, President 
"Washington enclosed this plan with others explaining that it 
had been prepared under an idea that no offer worthy of 
consideration would come from the land-holders in the vicinity 
of Carrollsburgh, from the backwardness which appeared in- 
them, and therefore was accommodated to the grounds' about 
Georgetown. 

On the 11th of March Messrs. Deakins and Stoddert had 
written to the President that the owners of Hamburgh lots in 
Washington County, Maryland, were willing to sign a paper 
ceding their lots on being requested by any person under the 
President's direction. In order to take advantage of this 
disposition on their part the President wrote the following 
letter which he sent to Stoddert and Deakins to be used in 
obtaining the desired agreements : 

"Philadelphia, March 17, 1791. 
"Gentlemen: On passing through Georgetown I propose 
to examine the ground between that town and the Eastern 
Branch, and on that examination to fix on a site for the 
public buildings. Should there be any circumstances in 
favor of the ground next adjoining to Georgetown, I foresee 
that the old town of Hamburgh will be a considerable 
obstacle, as the streets of that will probably not coincide 
with those which might be proposed for the Federal City; 
on behalf of the public I should be much pleased if the 
proprietors of lots in that town would voluntarily consent 
to cede them at such price as may be set on the adjacent 
lands which have been or shall be ceded. I will ask the 
favor of you to have application made to them in time for 
their decision to meet me at Georgetown. 

(No signature on letter press copy.) 

Messieurs Deakins and Stoddert." 
This letter was enclosed with a private communication to 
Deakins and Stoddert in which, after requesting them to 
dispatch his letter to the owners of the Hamburgh lots with the 
necessary propositions in form, he says : "I am aware that by 
this means it will become known that you are acting for the 



History of the City of Washington. 71 

public ; but there will be no reason for keeping this longer 
secret after my arrival at Georgetown." 

Deakins and Stoddert, pursuant either to this request or 
possibly to a former one to the same effect, procured from 
such of the owners of Hamburgh lots as were convenient to 
Georgetown the following agreement, the date of which appears 
to make the instrument antedate the President's request: 

"Whereas, It would be a desirable circumstance to the 
Subscribers, that the Federal City should be laid off so 
as to Comprehend within its lines, the Town of Hamburgh, 
lying in Prince Georges County — And whereas, the 
president of the United States, has the power under an 
Act of the General Assembly of Maryland to Condemn one 
hundred and thirty Acres of Land, anywhere in the State 
of Maryland for the purpose of the Federal City — and it 
is reasonable to Suppose that if a Situation for the Federal 
City should be Chosen, so as to Comprehend Hamburgh, as 
aforesaid, the President of the United States would find 
it necessary to have, the whole of the Lotts in said Town 
condemned, unless the same could be had by purchase from 
the Proprietors — Now we the Subscribers, proprietors of 
Lotts in Hamburgh, in consideration of the premises, as well 
as for the Consideration hereafter mentioned, Do hereby 
agree and bind ourselves, our heirs, Executors and 
Administrators to sell to the President of the United States, 
or to a Commissioner or Commissioners, Appointed, or to 
be Appointed by him, the Lotts which we respectively hold 
in Hamburgh, for the uses of the Federal City, and for such 
price for each Lott, as each of those Lotts shall be valued at, 
which may be condemned under the Act of Assembly 
aforesaid, it being probable that the whole of the 
proprietors of Lotts in Hamburg, may not agree to Sell, 
and that it will therefore be necessary, that a Condemnation 
should take place, with respect to some of them. 

' ' In Witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands and 
seals this Twenty-first day of February, 1791. 

Thos. Cramphin (Seal). 

Witness. 

Benj. Stoddard — for Thomas Cramphin — x2 lotts No. 
150: 239. 

Chas. Beatty (Seal). 



72 History of the City of Washington. 

Benj. Stoddard— for Charles Beatty— 4 Do. 286 : 115 243 
53. 

Robt. Peter (Seal 
Benj. Stoddard— for R. Peter— 83: 84: 170: 225. 

Wm. Robertson (Seal 
Benj. Stoddard — for Wm. Robertson, either No. 241 or 
277. 

Thos. Beall of Geo. (Seal 
Benj. Stoddard— for Thos. Beall— 1 lott 233. 

Markham Waring (Seal 
Benj. Stoddard— for M. Waring— 1 lott 76. 

John Montz (Seal 
Will Deakins — for John Montz — No. 1. 

Thomas Johns (Seal 
Will Deakins Jr. — for T. Johns. 
Will Deakins Jr. — for F. Kokindoffer for 4 lotts 2 
248 : 252—3 lotts No. 85 : 86 : 157— 

Jas. M. Lingan (Seal 
Will Deakins for J. M. Lingan— 9 Lotts No. 8: 10: 25: 
27 : 187 : 218 : 211 : 247 : 269. 

Henry Hilliarys Sen'r (Seal 
ditto for H. Hilliarys— No. 102. 

Will Lydebotham (Seal 
ditto for Wm. Lydebotham — No. 155. 

Thos. 0. Williams (Seal 
ditto for T. 0. Williams— No. 26 : 222. 

Evan Thomas (Seal 
ditto for Evan Thomas — No. 81. 

Lawrence O'Neale (Seal 
ditto for L. O'Neale— No. 274. 

12x23 ' Anthony Holmeade (Seal 

Jno. Suter Jr. for Wm. Magrath. f 

William Magrath ] (Seal 
2 lotts No. 83 & 208 ( 
Forrest and Stoddard. (Seal 

Eight lotts, two of which are improved, the value of the 
improvements must be paid, and may be ascertained by any 
person appointed by the President. No. 32 : 91 : 92 : 44 : 
45: 167: 55." 

President Washington had kept in communication with Mr. 
Carroll respecting his proposed visit to Georgetown and 
finally, under date of March 17, 1791, wrote to him from 
Philadelphia fixing definitely the date when he should expect 



History of the City of Washington. 73 

to meet the Commissioners. The letter which follows is interest- 
ing for the light it sheds upon the length of time required for 
traveling before the advent of steam railroads: 

"Philadelphia, March 17, 1791. 
"To Daniel Carroll, Esq. — Georgetown. 

"Dear Sir: The enclosed letter (requesting Mr. Carroll 
to send an express to Mr. Johnson to notify him of the 
proposed meeting) was written to go by the post yesterday, 
but was omitted to be put to the office in season. 

"I have thought best upon further consideration to fix 
on Monday next for the time of my departure from this 
City — in which case I expect to be four days in Travelling 
to Baltimore, and as I shall be under the necessity of going 
by way of Annapolis, I must calculate upon three days 
more for my journey from Baltimore to that place, and 
my stay there. One day will carry me from thence to 
Georgetown, which will bring it to Monday the 28th of 
this month, at which time if no accident intervenes, I shall 
expect to meet the Commissioners at that place, of which 
I will thank you to give them notice. 
With very great regard, I am, dear Sir, 
Your most obedient servant, G. Washington. ' ' 

Evidence of the continuing interest of Mr. Jefferson in the 
new Federal seat and of the methodical bent of his mind is found 
in a memorandum prepared by him for the President's use 
entitled "Objects which may merit the attention of the President 
at George T." 

This memorandum enumerated as matters to be attended 
to by the President, the following: The Commissioners to be 
called into action; deeds of cession to be taken from the land- 
holders; site of the Capitol and President's house to be 
determined on; proclamation completing the location of the 
territory and fixing the site of the Capitol; town to be laid off; 
squares of reserve to be decided on for the Capitol, President's 
house, offices of government, town house, prison, market and 
public walks. Other squares for present sale designated. Terms 
of sale to be settled. 

He also recommended that the President form a Capitulary 
of such regulations as he might think necessary to 



74 History of the City of Washington. 

be observed until there should be a town legislature to under- 
take that office. His legal training manifested itself in the 
observation that this Capitulary should be indented, signed, 
sealed and recorded according to the laws of conveyance of 
Maryland, and be referred to in every deed for conveyance of 
lots to purchasers, so as to make a part thereof, an alternative 
being suggested that the same thing might be effected by insert- 
ing special covenants for various regulations in every deed. 

Continuing, Mr. Jefferson says he cannot help again sug- 
gesting one regulation formerly suggested, to wit, "to provide 
for facilitating the extinguishment of fires and the openness 
and convenience of the town by prohibiting houses of excessive 
height, making it unlawful to build on any one's purchase any 
house with more than two floors between the common level of 
the earth and the eves, nor with any other floor in the roof 
than one at the eves." 

In his notes on the Residence Act he had remarked that in 
Paris it was forbidden to build a house beyond a given height, 
saying "it is admitted to be a good restriction, it keeps the 
houses low and convenient, and the streets light and airy, fires 
are much more manageable where houses are low." 

Mr. Jefferson further suggested that the President should 
consider in what way contracts for the public buildings should 
be made and whether as many bricks should not be made that 
summer as might employ brickmakers in the beginning of the 
season of 1792 till more could be made in that season. He 
closes by setting forth at much length the desirability of and 
a proposed method for including Bladensburgh in the Federal 
Territory by a rearrangement of the boundary lines of the 
Federal Territory as then determined. 

This paper is of special interest as constituting a methodical 
outline of almost the precise steps followed by President Wash- 
ington and afterwards by the Commissioners in the work of 
laying out the city. 

The President kept true to his schedule, though after a 
trip accompanied with some vicissitudes, among them being 
stuck on the bar at the mouth of the Severn River and being 



History of the City of Washington. 75 

compelled to spend the night in his cloak and boots in a berth 

too short by the head. 

What transpired during his stay at Georgetown is best 

told in his own words. In his diary he writes : 

"March, 1791, Monday, 28th. Left Blandensburgh at 
half after six, & breakfasted at George Town about 8 ; where, 
having appointed the Commissioners under the Residence 
Law to meet me, I found Mr. Johnson one of them (& who 
is Chief Justice of the State) in waiting — & soon after came 
in David Stuart, & Danl. Carroll Esqrs. the other two. — 
A few miles out of Town I was met by the principal 
Citizens of the place and escorted in by them; and dined 
at Suter's tavern (where I also lodged) at a public dinner 
given by the Mayor & Corporation — previous to which I 
examined the Surveys of Mr. Ellicot who had been sent 
on to lay out the district of ten miles square for the federal 
seat; and also the works of Majr. L 'Enfant who had been 
engaged to examine & make a draught of the grds. in the 
vicinity of George Town and Carrollsburg on the Eastern 
Branch making arrangements for examining the ground 
myself tomorrow with the Commissioners. 

' ' Tuesday, 29th. In a thick mist, and under strong appear- 
ances of a settled rain (which however did not happen) I 
'set out about 7 o'clock for the purpose above mentioned 
— but from the unfavorableness of the day, I derived no 
great satisfaction from the review. 

"Finding the interests of the Landholders about George- 
town and those about Carrollsburgh much at variance and 
that their fears and jealousies of each other were counter- 
acting the public purposes & might prove injurious to its 
best interests whilst if properly managed they might be 
made to subserve it — I requested them to meet me at six 
o'clock this afternoon at my lodgings, which they accord- 
ingly did. To this meeting I represented that the contention 
in which they seemed to be engaged, did not in my opinion 
comport either with the public interest or that of their 
own; that while each party was aiming to obtain the 
public buildings, they might by placing the matter on a 
contracted scale, defeat the measure altogether; not only 
by procrastination but for want of the means necessary to 
effect the work; that neither the offer from George-Town 
or Carrollsburgh separately, was adequate to the end of 
insuring the object. That both together did not compre- 



76 History of the City of Washington. 

hend more ground nor would afford greater means than was 
required for the Federal City; and that, instead of 
contending which of the two should have it they had better, 
by combining more offers make a common cause of it, and 
thereby secure it to the district — other arguments were 
used to show the danger which might result from delay 
and the good effects that might proceed from a Union. 

"Dined at Colonel Forrest's to day with the Commission- 
ers and others. 

' ' Wednesday, 30th. The parties to whom I addressed 
myself yesterday evening, having taken the matter into 
consideration saw the propriety of my observations; and 
that whilst they were contending for the shadow they might 
lose the substance ; and therefore mutually agreed and 
entered into articles to surrender for public purposes, one 
half of the land they severally possessed within bounds 
which were designated as necessary for the City to stand 
with some other stipulations, which were inserted in the 
instrument which they respectively subscribed. 

' ' This business being thus happily finished and some direc- 
tions given to the Commissioners, the Surveyor and 
Engineer with respect to the mode of laying out the 
district — Surveying the grounds for the City and forming 
them into lots — I left Georgetown — dined at Alexandria 
and reached Mount Vernon in the evening." 
The instrument subscribed by the proprietors and referred 
to in President Washington 's diary was as follows : 

"We, the subscribers, in consideration of the great 
benefits we expect to derive from having the Federal City 
laid off upon our Lands, do hereby agree and bind ourselves, 
heirs, executors, and administrators, to convey, in Trust, 
to the President of the United States, or Commissioners, 
or such person or persons as he shall appoint, by good and 
sufficient deeds, in Fee simple, the whole of our respective 
Lands which he may think proper to include within the 
lines of the Federal City, for the purposes and on the 
conditions following: 

"The President shall have the sole power of directing 
the Federal City to be laid off in what manner he pleases. 
He may retain any number of Squares he may think proper 
for public Improvements, or other public Uses, and the lots 
only which shall be laid off shall be a joint property between 
the Trustees on behalf of the public, and each present 



History of the City of Washington. 77 

proprietor, and the same shall be fairly and equally divided 
between the public and the Individuals, as soon as may be, 
after the City shall be laid off. 

"For the streets the proprietors shall receive no compen- 
sation; but for the squares or Lands in any form, which 
shall be taken for public buildings, or any kind of public 
improvements, or uses, the proprietors, whose lands shall 
be so taken, shall receive at the rate of twenty-five pounds 
per acre, to be paid by the public. 

' ' The whole wood on the Lands shall be the property of 
the proprietors. 

"But should any be desired by the president to be 
reserved or left standing, the same shall be paid for by the 
public at a just and reasonable valuation, exclusive of the 
twenty-five pounds per acre to be paid for the Land, on 
which the same shall remain. 

"Each proprietor shall retain the full possession and use 
of his land, until the same shall be sold and occupied by 
the purchasers of the Lots laid out thereupon, and in all 
cases where the public arrangements as to streets, lotts, &c, 
will admit of it, each proprietor shall possess his buildings 
and other improvements, and graveyards, paying to the 
public only one-half the present estimated value of the 
Lands, on which the same shall be, or twelve pounds ten 
shillings per acre. But in cases where the arrangements 
of the streets, lotts, squares, &c, will not admit of this, 
and it shall become necessary to remove such buildings, 
Improvements, &c, the proprietors of the same shall be 
paid the reasonable value thereof, by the public. 

"Nothing herein contained shall affect the Lotts which 
any of the parties to this Agreement may hold in the Towns 
of Carrollsburgh or Hamburgh. 

"In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and 
Seals, this thirteenth day of March, 1791. 

"Signed & sealed in pres- 
ence of us — Mr. Thos. 
Beall, making an exception 
of the Lands he sold Abra- 
ham Young not yet con- 
veyed. 



Signed 

Robert Peter (Seal) 

David Burnes (Seal) 

Jas. M. Lingan (Seal) 

Uriah Forrest (Seal) 



Witness to all the sub-} Benj Stoddert (Seal) 
scnbers mcluding William J Notley Young (geal) 



78 



History of the City of Washington. 



William Bayly- 
William Robertson 
John Suter 

Samuel Davidson witness 
to Abraham Young's sign- 
ing. 
Benj. S'toddert witness to j 
Edward Peirce 's signing. } 
Joseph E. Rowles for \ 
Jno. Waring. j 

Wm. Deakins Junr. for] 
Wm. Prout & William King | 
as attorney in fact. \ 



Dan. Carroll of Dn. (Seal) 

Overton Carr (Seal) 

Thos. Beall of Geo. (Seal) 

Charles Beatty (Seal) 

Anthony Holmead (Seal) 

Wm. Young (Seal) 

Edward Peirce (Seal) 

Abraham Young (Seal) 



James Peirce 
William Prout 



(Seal) 
(Seal) 



Robert Peter, as attorney 
in fact for Eliphas Doug- 
lass. (Seal) 

Benj. Stoddert for Jno. 
Waring by written author- 
ity from Mr. Waring. 

William King (Seal) " 

Under the same date as the foregoing, a number of identical 
instruments were circulated among and signed by the owners 
of lots in Carrollsburgh. These instruments were in the follow- 
ing form: 

"We the Subscribers holding or entitled to Lots in 
Carrollsburgh agree with each other and with the President 
of the United States that the lots and lands we hold or 
are entitled to in Carrollsburgh shall be subject to be laid 
out at the pleasure of the president as part of the Federal 
City and that we will receive one half the Quantity of our 
respective Lots as near their present Situation as may agree 
with the new plan and where we may be entitled now to 
only one Lot or otherwise not entitled on the new plan to 
one entire lot or do not agree with the President, Commis- 
sioners or other person or persons acting on the part of 
the public on an adjustment of our interest we agree that 
there shall be a sale of the Lots in which we may be interest- 
ed respectively and the produce thereof in money or 
Securities shall be equally divided one half as a Donation 
for the Use of the United States under the Act of Congress, 
the other half to ourselves respectively. And we engage 



History of tiie City of Washington. 79 

to make Conveyances of our respective Lots and lands af 'd 
to Trustees or otherwise whereby to relinquish our rights 
to the said Lots & Lands as the president or such Commrs 
or persons acting as af 'd shall direct to secure to the United 
States the Donation intended by this Agreement. Witness 
our hands this thirtieth Day of March, 1791. 

N. B. See the alteration of these Subscriptions. 

Th. Johnson, 
Daniel Carroll, 
Will Deakins, Jun'r., 
William Bayly, 
Daniel Carroll for Th., 
Morton, 
Notley Young, 
Notley Young for Mary, 
Young and Eliz. Carroll." 

President Washington appears to have been much elated 
over his success in procuring the execution of these agreements, 
and justly so. They outlined a plan whereby the Federal City 
should finance itself. The ground necessary for the streets 
was to be donated to the Federal Government, and while such 
land as should be needed for public reservations and buildings 
was to be paid for by the Federal Government at the rate of 
£25 Maryland currency or $66 2-3 per acre, nevertheless the 
arrangement whereby the Federal Government should divide 
with the original proprietors all the platted squares gave to 
the former a source of revenue which it was anticipated would 
suffice not only to pay for the public reservations but also for 
all the Federal expenses in connection with the city for many 
years to come. While the disposal by the Federal Government 
of its proportion of the lots assigned to it was afterwards severe- 
ly criticized as improvident, nevertheless the funds so obtained 
sufficed eventually to pay for all the land laid out for Federal 
buildings and reservations and provided for the erection of the 
Federal buildings and for their reconstruction after they had 
been destroyed by the British in the War of 1812. 

The whole transaction is succinctly characterized in a 
report by Mr. Southard, Chairman of the Senate Committee 



80 History of the City of Washington. 

on the District of Columbia, presented to the Senate February 
2. 1835, in which he says : 

"For this large extent of land (i. e. the public reserva- 
tions) equal to all its present and prospective wants, the 
Government paid, nominally, the sum of $36,099 to the 
proprietors of the soil; but in reality nothing. This sum 
was not drawn from the general Treasury, nor one cent 
of it contributed by the people of the United States. The 
whole of it was taken out of the proceeds of the sales of 
the building lots, which had also been secured by the 
Government in the contract with the landowners. It thus 
appears that the people of the United States have paid 
nothing for all their public lots, nor for the property in 
the streets. They procured them, and now own them, 
without the expenditure of a single dollar." 
This agreement was in after years made the basis of 
litigation in the case of Van Ness v. City of Washington (4 
Peters 232). The Supreme Court, replying to the contention 
that the portion of the land taken by the Government for 
streets and public reservations was clothed with a trust that 
they should remain such and that upon any change in their 
character the title should revert to the original proprietors, said : 
"It is not very material, in our opinion, to decide what 
was the technical character of the grants made to the 
government ; whether they are to be deemed mere donations 
or purchases. The grants were made for the foundation 
of a Federal City; and the public faith was necessarily 
pledged when the grants were accepted to found such city. 
The very agreement to found a city was of itself a most 
valuable consideration for these grants. It changed the, 
nature and value of the property of the proprietors to an 
almost incalculable extent. The land was no longer to be 
devoted to mere agricultural purposes, but acquired the 
extraordinary value of city lots. In proportion to the 
success of the city would be the enhancement of this value ; 
and it required scarcely any aid from the imagination to 
foresee that this act of government would soon convert the 
narrow income of farms into solid opulence. The 
proprietors so considered it. In this very agreement, they 
state the motive of their proceedings in a plain and 
intelligible manner. It is not a mere gratuitous donation 
from motives of generosity or public spirit; but in consid- 



History of the City of Washington. 81 

eration of the great benefits they expect to derive from 
having the Federal City laid off upon their lands. For the 
streets they were to receive no compensation. Why? Because 
those streets would be of as much benefit to themselves, as 
lot-holders, as to the public. They were to receive £25 
per acre for the public reservations; 'to be paid' (as the 
agreement states it) 'by the public' They understood 
themselves, then, to receive payment from the public for 
the reservations. It makes no difference, that by the 
subsequent arrangements they were to receive this payment 
out of the sales of the lots which they had agreed to convey 
to the public, in consideration of the government's found- 
ing the city on their lands. It was still contemplated by 
them as a compensation; as a valuable consideration, fully 
adequate to the value of all their grants. It can, there- 
fore, be treated in no other manner than as a bargain 
between themselves and the government, for what each 
deemed an adequate consideration. Neither considered it 
a case where all was benefit on one side, and all sacrifice 
on the other. It was, in no sense, a case of charity, and 
was never so treated in the negotiations of the parties. 
But, as has already been said, it is not in our view material, 
whether it be considered as a donation or a purchase, for 
in each case it was for the foundation of a city." 
There is, however, another side to this question. As will 
later appear, the work of effecting divisions between the public 
and the proprietors was slow and the sales of the property 
equally so. It was many years before some of the proprietors 
were able to dispose of any considerable quantity of their lots. 
In the meantime their farms were no longer a source of income. 
One of them Daniel Carroll of Duddington, in a letter to 
Mayor Brent written July 24, 1837, replying to an inquiry on 
this very point said :* 

"In answer to yours, I fear the deeds will fully express 
the relinquishments of right in the streets to the govern- 
ment. I nevertheless perfectly remember that the general 
opinion was that so great was the gift that the citizens 
would never be subject to taxation for the improvement 
of the streets — having relinquished every alternate lot to 
the government. Indeed, some were so wild as to suppose 

*01d Georgetown, by Hugh T. Taggart, Esq. Vol. 11. Records Col. 
Hist. Soc. 



82 History of the City of Washington. 

the donation was so great the government might pave 
the streets with ingots of gold or silver. After nearly a 
half century the result is now fully known ; the unfortunate 
proprietors are generally brought to ruin, and some with 
scarcely enough to buy daily food for their families. The 
subject is so truly frightful to me that I hate to think of 
it, much less to write of it." 

Another proprietor, David Burnes, was so sorely pressed 
for money to pay his bills while the divisions between the 
Government and the proprietors were being made and the lots 
sold that he repeatedly appealed to the Commissioners for even 
partial payments upon the land taken from his tract for public 
reservations, with the result that the Commissioners as a 
measure of relief to him assumed the payment of some of his 
most pressing debts. 

On the same day with the execution of the foregoing 
agreements, President Washington issued his proclamation 
finally setting forth the boundaries of the ten miles square. 
This proclamation recited the publication of the first proclama- 
tion, the passage of the amendatory Act of Congress allowing 
both sides of the Eastern Branch and the Virginia shore as 
far as Hunting Creek to be included within the Federal Terri- 
tory and proceeded to define the boundaries of the latter as 
follows : 

"Beginning at Jones' Point, being the upper cape of 
Hunting Creek, in Virginia, and at an angle in the outset 
of forty-five degrees west of the north, and running in a 
direct line ten miles, for the first line; then beginning 
again at the same Jones' Point, and running another direct 
line at a right angle with the first, across the Potomac ten 
miles, for the second line; thence from the termination of 
said first and second lines, running two other lines of ten 
miles each, the one crossing the Eastern Branch aforesaid 
and the other the Potomac, and meeting each other in a 
point." 

Major L 'Enfant 's first report, which is undated, was prob- 
ably delivered to the President at the time of his presence in 
Georgetown when he secured the signing of the preliminary 
agreement by the proprietors. After describing the general 



History of the City of Washington. 83 

characteristics of the land and of the waters adjoining it, he 
gives some of his ideas as to the locations for public buildings. 
He suggests a bridge over the Eastern Branch at a point 
about a half mile above Evans' Point where the deep channel 
terminates, and one across the Potomac above Georgetown "at 
the place of the two Sisters w(h)ere nature would effectually 
favor the undertaking." He proposes the placing of wharves 
and the establishing of a naval store, arsenals and warehouses 
on the Eastern Branch. As to the locations most favorable for 
the public buildings he says : 

"there w(h)ere the level ground on the water and all 
around w(h)ere it descend but most particularly on that 
part terminating in a ridge to Jenkin's Hill* and running 
in a parallel with and at half mile off from the river 
Potowmack separated by a low ground intersected with 
three grand streams — many of the most desirable position 
offer for to erect the Publique Edifices thereon — from these 
height every grand building would rear with majestic 
aspect over the Country all around and might be advantage- 
ously seen from twenty miles off which Contigeous to the 
first settlement of the City they would there stand to ages 
in a Central point to it, facing on the grandest prospect 
of both of the branch of the Potowmack with the town of 
Alexandry in front seen in its fullest extent over many 
points of land projecting from the Maryland and Virginia 
shore in a manner as add much to the perspective at the 
end of which the Cape of great Hunting Creek appears 
directly w(h)ere a corner stone of the Federal District is 
to be placed and in the room of which a majestic colum or 
a grand Perysomid being erected would produce the happy- 
est effect and compleatly finish the landscape — " 
He suggests opening "a direct and large avenue from the 
bridge on the Potowmack to that on the Eastern Branch the 
which should be well level passing across Georgetown and over 
the most advantageous ground for prospect trought the Grand 
City, with a middle way paved for heavy carriage and walk 
on each side planted with double Rows of trees." 

The idea of laying out the city in regular squares accord- 
Capitol Hill. 



84 History of the City of Washington. 

ing to the plan of Philadelphia he somewhat contemptuously 

dismisses in the following : 

" * * it is not the regular assemblage of houses laid 
out in square and forming streets all parallel and uniform 
that is so necessary for such plan could only so on a level 
plain and w(h)ere no surrounding object being interesting 
it become indifferent which way the opening of street may 
be directed, but on any other ground a plan of this sort 
most be defective and it never would answer for any of 
the spots proposed for the Federal City, and on that held 
here as the most eligible it would absolutely annilate every 
of the advantage enumerated and the seeing of which will 
alone injure the success of the undertaking, such regular 
plan indeed however answerable as they may appear upon 
paper or seducing as they may be on the first aspect to 
the eyes of some people most even when applayed upon 
the ground the best calculated to admit of it become at 
least tiresome and insipide and it never could be in its 
orrigine but a mean continuance of some cool imagination 
wanting a sense of the real grand and truly beautifull only 
to be met with w(h)ere nature contribut with art and 
diversify the object." 

The four or five days following the execution of 
the agreement by the proprietors were spent by President 
Washington at Mount Vernon mainly in attending to his 
private affairs and preparing for his coming Southern trip. The 
Federal City, nevertheless, appears to have been quite constant- 
ly on his mind, for during that period he wrote a number of 
important and interesting letters. 

The day following his arrival at Mount Vernon he wrote 
tc Mr. Jefferson enclosing the Proclamation defining the limits 
of the Federal Territory, and explaining the omission there- 
from of the provision in Mr. Jefferson's draft designating the 
sites for the public buildings on the land near the mouth of 
the Tiber, and explaining also the non-inclusion of Bladens- 
burg within the ten miles square. He said : 

"Mount Vernon, March 31, 1791. 
"Dear Sir: Having been so fortunate as to reconcile 
the contending interests of Georgetown and Carrollsburg, 
and to unite them in such an agreement as permits the 



History of the City of Washington. 85 

public purposes to be carried into effect on an extensive 
and proper scale, I have the pleasure to transmit to you 
the enclosed Proclamation, which you will cause after annex- 
ing the Seal of the U. S. and your countersignature to be 
published. 

' ' The terms entered into by me, on the part of the United 
States, with the Landholders of Georgetown and Carrolls- 
burg are that all the land from Rock Creek along the 
river to the Eastern Branch and so upwards to, or above 
the ferry including a breadth of about a mile and 
a half, the whole containing from three to five thousand 
acres is ceded to the public on condition, that when the 
whole shall be surveyed and laid off as a city (which Major 
L 'Enfant is now directed to do) the present Proprietors 
shall retain every other lot — and for such part of the land 
as may be taken for public use, for squares, walks, &c, they 
shall be allowed at the rate of twenty-five pounds per 
acre — the Public having the right to reserve such parts of 
the wood on the land as may be thought necessary to be 
preserved for ornament. The landholders to have the use 
and profits of all the grounds until the City is laid off 
into lots, and sale is made of those lots which, by this 
agreement, became public property — nothing is to be 
allowed for the ground which may be occupied as streets 
or alleys. 

"To these conditions all the principal Landholders, 
except the purchaser of Slater's property who was not 
present, have subscribed, and it is not doubted that the 
few who were not present will readily come into the 
measure, even the obstinate Mr. Burns. 

"The enlarged plan of this agreement having done away 
the necessity and indeed postponed the propriety of 
designating the particular spot on which the public build- 
ings should be placed until an accurate survey and sub- 
division of the whole ground is made, I have left out that 
paragraph of the proclamation. 

"It was found on running the lines that the comprehen- 
sion of Bladensburg with the district must have occasioned 
the exclusion of more important objects — and of this I 
am convinced as well by my own observation as Mr. 
Ellicott's opinion. 

"With great regard and esteem, I am dear Sir 
Your most obd't Servt., 

Copy to Mr. Jefferson." Signed G. W. 



8G History of the City of Washington. 

The writing of this letter probably reminded the Presi- 
dent of the matter of building regulations, with the importance 
of which he seems to have been much impressed, and which 
he had overlooked in the multitude of matters which claimed 
his attention while at Georgetown; for the following day he 
took up the subject with Messrs. Stoddert and Deakins, saying : 

' ' Mount Vernon, April 1st, 1791. 
"Gentlemen: Being accustomed to write to you respect- 
ing the grounds for the Fed'l City, I continue the practice. 

"It may be Tuesday or Wednesday next before I shall 
leave this place, — by which (say by Monday's Post) I 
should be glad to hear what progress has been made, and 
what still remains to be done in the business which so 
happily commenced on Tuesday last under the accommodat- 
ing spirit which then prevailed. 

"The subscription paper has been, I presume, deposited 
in the hands of the Commissioners, for the purpose of 
drawing conveyances. I should be glad nevertheless to 
receive a copy of it with the names of the subscribers 
annexed thereto for my own satisfaction — the general tenor 
of the agreement was, I well remember, pleasing to me, and, 
in my opinion reciprocally beneficial to all the parties, but 
I do not now recollect with precision whether it is fully 
expressed that the lots left to the disposal of the several 
proprietors by the conditions of their grants are subject 
to all the rules and regulations (with respect to the build- 
ings, &c, &c.) as the public ones are. This unquestion- 
ably ought to be the case — it was evidently my meaning 
that they should be so — and unless it is so, one of the great 
objects — to wit — uniformity and beauty — may be defeated. 

"The mail of Wednesday brought me a letter from Mr. 
Jefferson, dated the 27th ulto. in which is the folio-wing 
paragraph : ' A bill was yesterday ordered to be brought 
into the house, of representatives here for granting a sum 
of money for building a Federal hall, house for the Pres- 
ident, &c.' This (though I do not wish that it should be 
expressed as my sentiment) unfolds most evidently the 

views of P _ at the same time that it proves in 

a striking manner the propriety of the measure adopted 
by the Georgetown and Carrollsburgh proprietors on 
Wednesday last — As also the necessity of their completing 



History of the City of Washington. 87 

the good work they have begun in a speedy, and, in an effect- 
ual manner that the consequent arrangements may take 
place without delay. 

"With esteem and regard, I am, Gent'n, 
Y. obd. Hbl. Serv., 

G. Washington." 
President Washington was at this time especially anxiou* 
that the work of completing the survey and laying off the city 
as well as that of completing the arrangements with the 
proprietors of the land by means of formal conveyances and 
to the proper trustees, the divisions between the Government 
and the proprietors, and the sales of lots should proceed vigor- 
ously. Even at this period, the efforts of other localities to 
obtain the location of the permanent seat of government had 
not ended. Baltimore, which had raised a large fund for the 
erection of Federal buildings, was still protesting against the 
establishment of a new city in the wilderness ; and Philadelphia, 
which was to be the seat of the Government during the ten years 
allowed for the laying off of the city and the erection of the 
public buildings, was still hopeful of becoming the permanent 
seat of the National Capital. To this end as President Wash- 
ington's letter just quoted mentions, the Pennsylvania legisla- 
ture was then considering a bill to appropriate a sum of money 
for the erection of buildings for the use of the Government. 
President Washington consequently felt very strongly that 
delay or embarrassment in establishing the city on a substantial 
basis would be exceedingly prejudicial to its interests. His 
eagerness in this particular is evidenced by a letter which he 
wrote to the Commissioners from Mount Vernon, under date 
of April 3, 1791, in which he again alluded to the bill pending 
in the Pennsylvania legislature. He said: 

"Mount Vernon, April 3rd, 1791. 
' ' Gentlemen : As the Instrut. which was subscribed 
at George Town by the Landholders in the vicinity of that 
place and Carrollsburg, was not given to me, I presume 
it has been deposited with you. It is of the greatest moment 
to close this business with the proprietors of the land on 
which the Federal City is to be that consequent arrange- 
ments may be made without more delay than can be avoided. 



88 History of the City of Washington. 

"To accomplish this matter so as that the Sales of the 
lots, the public buildings &c. may commence with as much 
facility as the nature of the case will admit, would be I 
conceive advisable under any circumstances — perhaps the 
friends of the measures may think it materially so, from 
the following extract of a letter from Mr. Jefferson to me, 
dated the 27th ulto. 'A bill was yesterday ordered to be 
brought into the House of Representatives here for grant- 
ing a sum of money for building a Federal hall, house 
for the President, &c.' This, (though I do not want any 
sentiment of mine promulgated with respect to it) marks 
unequivocally in my mind the designs of that State and 
the necessity of exertion to carry the Residence Law into 
effect agreeably thereto. 

"With great and sincere esteem and regard, I am gentle- 
men, your most obedt. and Hbl. Servt., 

George Washington. 

Thos. Johnson ~\ 

David Stuart [■ Esqrs." 

Danl. Carroll ) 

On April 4th, the President wrote to Major L 'Enfant 
enclosing Mr. Jefferson's and another sketch of the proposed 
town, saying : 

"Mount Vernon, April 4th, 1791. 
"Sir: Although I do not conceive that you will derive 
any material advantage from an examination of the 
enclosed papers, yet, as they have been drawn under differ- 
ent circumstances, and by . different persons, they may be 
compared with your own ideas of a proper plan for the Fed- 
eral City under the prospect which now presents itself. For 
this purpose I commit them to your private inspection until 
my return from the tour I am about to make. The rough 
sketch by Mr. Jefferson was done under an idea that no offer, 
worthy of consideration, would come from the Landholders 
in the vicinity of Carrollsburg ; form y. backwness. wch. 
appd. in them ; and therefore was accommodated to the 
grounds about George Town. The other is taken up upon 
a larger scale, without reference to any described spot. 

"It will be of great importance to the public interest 
to comprehend as much ground (to be ceded by individ- 
uals) as there is any tolerable prospect of obtaining from 
them. Although it may not be immediately wanting, it will 



History of the City of Washington. 89 

nevertheless increase the Revenue; and of course be 
beneficial hereafter not only to the public but to the Indiv. 
also, inasmuch as the plan will be enlarged, and thereby- 
freed from those blotches which otherwise might result 
from not comprehending all the lands that appear well 
adapted to the general design and which in my opinion, 
are those between Rock Creek, Potomac River and the 
Eastern Branch, and as far up the latter as the turn of 
the Channel above Evans' Point; these including the flat, 
back of Jenkins' Heights; thence to the road leading from 
Georgetown to Blandensburg as far Easterly along the 
same as to include the branch which runs across it, some- 
where near the exterior of the Georgetown Session — thence 
in a proper direction to Rock Creek at, or above the ford, 
according to the situation of ground. Within these limits 
there may be lands belonging to persons incapacitated 
though willing to convey on the terms proposed; but swch 
had better be included than others excluded the proprietors 
of which are not only willing but in circumstances to sub- 
scribe. I am, Sir, 

Yr. most obdt. Servt., 

G. Washington. 
To Majr. L 'Enfant." 

This letter is of importance because the instructions therein 
given to Major L 'Enfant relative to the extent of territory to 
be included in the city were the basis of the controversy which 
soon afterwards arose over the execution of the formal convey- 
ances by the proprietors. 

On the same day that President Washington wrote the 
foregoing letter to Major L 'Enfant the Major wrote to Mr. 
Jefferson, who, he probably had been informed, had collected 
the plans of a number of European cities during the period, 
from 1784 to 1789, of his sojourn there as the American Minister 
Plenipotentiary to arrange treaties of Commerce. The letter 
reads : 

"George Town, April 4th, 1791. 
"Sir: I would have reproached myself for not having 
written to you as regularly as you had desired. I should 
were it not circumstances . to which you will I doubt not 
attribute this seeming neglect in approving of the consid- 
erations which made me give the whole of my time to 



90 History of the City of Washington. 

forward as much as possibly could be the business I had 
to perform. Great as were my endeavors to that end, it 
still remained unfinished at the moment of the President's 
arrival at this place where I could present him no more 
but a rough drawing in pencil of the several surveys which 
I had been able to run — nevertheless the President's 
Indulgent disposition making him account for the difficul- 
ties encountered, I had the satisfaction to see the little I 
had done agreeable to his wishes — and the confidence with 
which he has been pleased since to Honor me in 
ordering the Survey to be continued and the delineation 
of a grand plan for the local distribution of the city to 
be done on principles conformable to the ideas which I 
took the liberty to hold before him as proper for the estab- 
lishment being so highly flattering to my ambition to fail 
exerting the best of my ability. It shall be from this 
moment my endeavor to answer the President's expecta- 
tion in preparing those plans and having them ready for 
the time of his return from the Southern tour. 

"I shall in the meanwhile, Sir, beg for every information 
respecting all what may in your judgment appear of most 
immediate importance to attend to as well as relating to 
every desirable establishment which it will be well to fore- 
see although delaying or perhaps leaving the execution 
thereof to a natural succession of time to effect. 

"The number and nature of the public buildings with 
the necessary appendix I should be glad to have a state- 
ment of as speedily as possible — and I would be very much 
obliged to you in the meantime if you could procure for 
me whatever may ^all within your reach — of any of the 
different grand cities now existing such as for example — 
as London — Madry — Paris — Amsterdam — Naples — Venice 
— Genoa — Florence together with particular maps of any 
such sea-ports or dock-yards and arsenals as you may know 
to be the most complete in their improvement for notwith- 
standing I would reprobate the idea of limiting and that 
contrary having this intention it is my wish and shall be 
my endeavor to delineate on a new and original way the 
plan the contrivance of which the President has left to me 
without any restriction soever — yet the contemplation of 
what exists of well improved situation, given the parallel 
of these with ineffective ones, may serve to suggest a 
variety of new ideas and is necessary to refine and strength- 
en the judgment particularly in the present instance when 



History of the City of Washington. 91 

having to unite the useful with the commodious and agree- 
able viewing these will by offering means for comparing 
enable me the better to determine with a certainty the 
propriety of a local which offer an extensive field for com- 
binations. 

"I have the honor to be, with great respect, 
Your most humble and most obedient servant, 

P. C. L 'Enfant. 
Mr. Jefferson, Secretary of State. ' ' 

The suggestion has been advanced that Mr. Jefferson may 
have been piqued at not being accorded greater recognition in 
the laying out of the city. Whatever of force there may be 
in this suggestion it is not borne out either in his reply to the 
President's letter informing him of the signing of the agree- 
ments by the proprietors nor in his response to Major L 'Enfant 's 
request, though the letter to Major L 'Enfant gives evidence that 
some of Mr. Jefferson's ideas had failed to meet with the 
President's approval. Both letters testify to his love for and 
familiarity with the study of architecture. 

The letter to the President, so far as it relates to the 
Federal City, reads: 

"The acquisition of ground at Georgetown is really 
noble. Considering that only £25 an acre is to be paid 
for any grounds taken for the public, and the streets not 
to be counted, which will in fact reduce it to about 
£19 an acre, I think very liberal reserves should be made 
for the public. Your proclamation came to hand the night 
of the 5th. Dunlap's & Bache's papers for the morning 
of the 6th being already filled, I could only get it into 
Brown's evening paper of the 6th. On the 7th the bill 
for the Federal buildings passed the representatives here 
by 42 to 10, but it was rejected yesterday by 9 to 6 in 
the Senate, or, to speak more exactly, it was postponed 
till the next session. In the meantime spirited proceed- 
ings at Georgetown will probably, under the continuance 
of your patronage, prevent the revival of the bill. I 
received last night from Major L 'Enfant a request to 
furnish him any plans of town I could for his examina- 
tion. I accordingly send him, by his post, plans of Frank- 
fort-on-the-Mayne, Carlsruhe, Amsterdam, Strasburg, Paris, 
Orleans, Bordeaux, Lyons, Montpelier, Marseilles, Turin, 



92 History of the City of Washington. 

and Milan, on large and accurate scales, which I procured 
while in those towns respectively. They are none of them 
however comparable to the old Babylon, revived in Phila- 
delphia, and exemplified. While in Europe I selected about 
a dozen or two of the handsomest fronts of private build- 
ings of which I have the plates. Perhaps it might decide 
the taste of the new town were these to be engraved here 
and distributed gratis among the inhabitants of Georgetown. 
The expense would be trifling." 

The letter to Major L 'Enfant after mentioning the sending 
of the plans asked for, proceeds: 

"I will beg your care of them and to return them when 
no longer useful to you, leaving you absolutely free to keep 
them as long as useful. I am happy that the President has 
left the planning of the town in such good hands, and have 
no doubt it will be done to general satisfaction. Consider- 
ing that the grounds to be reserved for the public are to 
be paid for by the acre, I think very liberal reservations 
should be made for them, and if these be about the Tyber 
and on the back of the town it will be of no injury to the 
commerce of the place, which will undoubtedly establish 
itself on the deep waters towards the Eastern Branch and 
mouth of Rock Creek; the waters about the mouth of the 
Tyber not being of any depth. Those connected with the 
government will prefer fixing themselves near the public 
grounds in the center, which will also be convenient to be 
resorted to as walks from the lower and upper town. Hav- 
ing indicated to the President before he went away, such 
general ideas on the subject of the town, as occurred to 
me, I make no doubt that, in explaining himself to you 
on the subject, he has interwoven with his own ideas, such 
of mine as he approved : for fear of repeating therefore 
what he did not approve, and having more confidence in 
the unbiased state of his mind, than in my own, I avoid 
interfering with what he may have expressed to you. 
Whenever it is possible to prepare plans for the Capitol, 
I should prefer the adoption of some one of the models 
of antiquity which have had the approbation of thousands 
of years ; and for the President 's house, I should prefer 
the celebrated fronts of modern buildings which have 
already received the approbation of all good judges. Such 
are the Galerie du Louvre, the Gardes meubles, and two 
fronts of the Hotel de Salon." 



History of the City of Washington. 93 

On April 12, 1791, the first meeting of the full Board of 
Commissioners was held, the record thereof reciting the fact 
that: 

"The form of the conveyance to Trustees, to be executed 
by the proprietors of the Lands between the Eastern 
Branch and Rock Creek, prepared agreeably to the direc- 
tions of the President of the United States, and pursuant 
to the tenor of the agreement signed by the proprietors, 
was presented by Mr. Johnson, and agreed to by the Com- 
missioners — but there was this difference between the deed 
from Mr. Young and the deed from the other proprietors, 
as then agreed upon, that the word 'Garden' should be 
inserted after the word 'Building' in two places in the 
deed from Mr. Young." 

Meanwhile arrangements for the survey of the boundaries 
of the Federal Territory were going forward. On March 31, 
the day following President Washington's departure from 
Georgetown, the Commissioners addressed a communication to 
Major Ellicott requesting him to supply himself with tents, 
provisions and other articles necessary to expedite the running 
of the lines of the ten miles square. Major Ellicott at once 
proceeded with the preliminary work of this survey with the 
result that two weeks later the following entry was made on 
the records of the proceedings of the Commissioners : 

"At a meeting of the Commissioners, at Alexandria, in 
the State of Virginia, on Friday the 15th day of April, 1791. 
"Present, David Stuart and Daniel Carroll. The Sur- 
veyor, Mr. Andrew Ellicott, having before this time under 
the directions of the Commissioners run a line from the 
court house in Alexandria due southwest half a mile, and 
thence southeast course to Hunting Creek, to find the 
beginning of the four lines of experiment, agreeably to 
the President's proclamation of the 24th of January last, 
the Commissioners attended by the surveyor, and a large 
concourse of spectators, proceeded to Jones' Point on the 
uppermost Cape of Hunting Creek, and fixed a stone at 
the same place, it being the beginning of the four lines 
of experiment." 

On April 13, the President wrote to the Commissioners 
from Richmond where he had arrived in the course of his 
journey through the South, again urging them to hasten the 



94 History of the City of Washington. 

securing of the conveyances from the landowners. He men- 
tioned that it had been intimated to him that the proprietors 
of Georgetown were desirous of being comprehended within 
the limits of the Federal City and suggested that if the measure 
was seriously contemplated the present was the fit moment for 
carrying it into effect in order that it might be included in 
Major L 'Enfant 's plan. 

In the meantime trouble was brewing which was to delay 
for nearly three months the execution of the conveyances from 
the proprietors which the President was so anxious to obtain 
and which eventually was to require the personal attendance 
of the President before the execution of the conveyances could 
be effected. 

It will have been noted that at the time he brought about 
the signing of the preliminary agreements by the proprietors 
he omitted to include therein a specific statement of the boun- 
daries of the city, though his views on this point were probably 
conveyed to the Commissioners. When the proprietors were 
shown the draft of the deeds prepared by Mr. Johnson, a num- 
ber of the proprietors refused to sign deeds conveying the 
extensive area provided for in the description set forth in the 
form of deed which Mr. Johnson had prepared. The halt in 
the proceedings and its cause are thus set forth in the record 
of the proceedings of the meeting of the Commissioners on 
April 14: 

"The Commissioners having met on Tuesday last, in 
consequence of the President's letter, for the purpose of 
preparing and receiving conveyances: proceeded as far as 
to prepare the draft of a conveyance, which they com- 
municated to several of the subscribers, and which in the 
frame of it appeared generally agreeable; but in fixing the 
extent to the Northeastward, several of the subscribers were 
willing only to insert a line drawn from Evan's point to 
the road half a mile from Rock Creek, a little above the 
ford. The Commissioners seeing the writing, in the terms 
of it, subjects 'the whole of the respective subscribers' 
lands, which the President might think proper to include 
in the lines of the Federal City for the purposes and on 
the conditions therein expressed,' and being of opinion 



History of the City of Washington. 95 

from several circumstances, happening since the entering 
into that engagement, that the President has an idea to 
extend the city further, on that side: think themselves 
not at Liberty to accept conveyances, containing that 
description, and therefore resolve to forbear taking convey- 
ances for the present, as they conceive it their duty not 
to do any act which may tend to narrow or restrain the 
President's views in the plan or extent of the city. A 
letter was received from Robert Peter and others, of this 
date, also one from George Walker, and others; which were 
inclosed with a copy of the above resolution in a letter 
from the Commissioners to the President. There was 
inclosed in their letter also, a plat of the lands between 
Rock Creek and the Eastern Branch with several different 
back lines and a copy of the agreement entered into by the 
proprietors of the said lands and the President. ' ' 
The letter from Robert Peter and others reads : 

"Georgetown, April 14th, 1791. 

"Gentlemen: When the President co mmu nicated his 
ideas to the proprietors of land within both the offers, of 
the insufficiency of either; and the necessity of an union 
of interests, he was requested to explain his views with 
respect to the form and extent of territory he would wish 
for the Federal City — and his reply was, to the best of 
our recollection — that he would desire to begin at Evans' 
Point on the Eastern Branch and run from there over 
Goose Creek some distance above the fording place, to 
intersect the road leading from Georgetown to Bladens- 
burg about half a mile from Rock Creek — thence to Rock 
Creek, and with the Creek, River, and Branch to the begin- 
ning — supposing that about 3500 acres would be compre- 
hended — but, upon some explanations by some of the 
proprietors it seemed to be understood that more would 
be included and probably 4000 acres or upwards. 

"In compliance with the views of the President, an agree- 
ment was prepared, in which the lines as mentioned by 
him, were omitted to be inserted, in the fullest confidence 
that tho' not mentioned in the agreement, they would be 
adhered to — or at least if they were varied, it would not be 
to include any considerably greater quantity of land, which 
we conceive; besides taking land we never had it in con- 
templation would be required, would only tend to lessen 
the value of the rest, without any real benefit to the public 



96 History of the City of Washington. 

— as the price of lots would diminish in proportion as the 
number for sale increased. 

"The deed which you now present for signing goes far 
beyond our idea of what was the spirit of the agreement, — 
we would therefore wish to decline singing it — and hope it 
will answer every purpose of the President to confine the 
lines of the city agreeably to his explanation on the height 
of the union of interests, when there will be no difficulty 
on our part to making the proper conveyances. 
"We have the honor to be with high respect, 
Gent'l. Yr. Most Obed. Servts., 
Robt. Peter, 
Notley Young, 
Jas. M. Lingan, 
Forrest & Stoddert." 

The letter from George Walker and others reads : 

"Georgetown, April 14th, 1791. 

"Gentlemen: We are extremely sorry to find you are 
at this time prevented from taking deeds and conveyances 
of the lands granted to the President of the United States, 
by the respective proprietors, who signed and sealed the 
agreement made with him on the 30th day of March last; 
owing to some of these gentlemen now alledging that they 
had conceived the President should be confined to certain 
bounds and limits, as well as extent of territory, in laying 
out the Federal City. 

"We however conceiving that, according to the before 
mentioned agreement, the President has a right to lay out 
the city upon our lands, where and in what manner he 
pleases, are ready and willing on our part fully to confirm 
by deed and conveyance what we have already ratified 
by our hands and seals: And we confide that you will not 
accede to any system, that may mutilate, disfigure or ren- 
der inconvenient the great Metropolis of America. , 

"Whatever might drop from the President in course of 
conversation, concerning the lands to be occupied by the 
city, we do not consider conclusive, as it could not then 
be expected he could with precision determine, what might 
be proper to include within its limits; the great object in 
view, being the founding an elegant, convenient, and agree- 
able Capital for the Union. Indeed it was our expectation, 
that after the different interests of Georgetown and Car- 
rollsburgh were happily reconciled, that no further cause 



History of tlie City of Washington. 97 

of discontent would arise; neither did we expect, that it 
was ever imagined, the President should be excluded from 
accepting of such grants as should be made him, for the 
purposes of erecting the public buildings. 

"We hope, therefore, that nothing will be done to frus- 
trate the views of the President, in accomplishing the 
important object of establishing the residence of Congress 
upon the Potomac — and are respectfully, gentlemen, 
Your Mo. Ob. Servants, 
(Signed) Chas. Beatty, 

George Walker now proprietor of the 
lands lately belonging to Overton Carr, and Thos. Beall of Geo. 

Saml. Davidson now proprietor of the 
land lately belonging to Edwd. Pierce. 
The Commissioner." 
Supporting this letter Thomas Beall wrote the following 
day: 

"Georgetown, April 15th, 1791. 
"Messrs. Johnson, Stuart and Carroll: 

"Gentlemen: When I signed the agreement with the 
President of the United States by which I ceded half of 
the land I might possess within the limits of the Federal 
City it was then my opinion as well as now that the Pres- 
ident should run the line where he might see proper and 
include as much land as he might think necessary. 
"I am respectfully, Your Mo. Obt. Sr., 

(Signed) Thos. Beall, of Geo. 
P. S. — My excepting against the land I sold Mr. Abraham 
Young will prove the above assertion. 

(Signed) Thos. Beall of Geo." 
It was these three letters which the Commissioners enclosed 
with one from themselves to the President explaining the 
situation. 

Evans' Point on the Eastern Branch was at about the 
present eastern end of Massachusetts Avenue. A point on the 
Georgetown and Bladensburg Road (Florida Avenue) half a 
mile from Rock Creek would be a short distance above the inter- 
section of Massachusetts Avenue with that stream. The dis- 
pute, therefore involved the question of the inclusion or exclu- 
sion of practically the entire portion of the original area of 
the city north of Massachusetts Avenue. President Washing- 



98 History of the City of Washington. 

ton was anxious to include this territory and had so indicated 
in his letter to Major L 'Enfant of April 4th. The contention 
of the protesting land holders amounted almost to an accusa- 
tion that he had taken an unfair advantage of them by induc- 
ing them to sign the preliminary agreement of March 30, under 
the representation that the limits of the city would stop short 
of this territory, and he replied with considerable spirit as 
follows : 

"Charleston, May 7th, 1791. 

"Gentlemen: I have received your letter of the 14th 
of last month. 

"It is an unfortunate circumstance in the present stage 
of the business, relative to the Federal City, that difficul- 
ties unforeseen and unexpected should arise to darken, 
perhaps to destroy, the fair prospect which it presented 
when I left Georgetown — and which the instrument, then 
signed by the combined interest (as it was termed) of 
Georgetown and Carrollsburg, so plainly describes. The 
pain which this occurrence occasions me is the more forcibly 
felt, as I had taken pleasure during my journey through 
the several states to relate the agreement, and to speak 
of it on every proper occasion, in terms which applauded 
the conduct of the parties, as being alike conducive to the 
public welfare, and to the interest of individuals, which 
last it was generally thought would be most benefited by 
the amazing increase of the property reserved to the land 
holders. 

"The words cited by Messrs. Young, Peter, Lingan and 
Forrest and Stoddard may be nearly what I expressed ; but 
will these gentlemen say this was given as the precise 
boundary, or will they, by detaching these words, take 
them in a sense unconnected with the general explanation 
of my ideas and views upon that occasion or without the 
qualifications, which unless I am much mistaken, were added 
of running about so and so — for I had no map before me 
for direction. Will they not recollect my observation that 
Philadelphia stood upon an area of three by two miles 
and that, if the Metropolis of one State occupied so much 
ground, what ought that of the United States to occupy? 
Did I not moreover observe that before the city could be 
laid out and the spot for the public buildings be precisely 



History of the City of Washington. 99 

fixed on, the water-courses were to be levelled, the heights 
taken, &c, &c? 

"Let the whole of my declaration be taken together, 
and not a part only, and being compared with the instru- 
ments then subscribed, — together with some other circum- 
stances which might be alluded to, let any impartial man 
judge whether I had reason to expect that difficulties would 
arise in the conveyances. 

"When the instrument was presented I found no occa- 
sion to add a word with respect to boundary, because the 
whole was surrendered upon the conditions which were 
expressed. Had I discovered a disposition in the subscrib- 
ers to contract my views, I should then have pointed out 
the inconveniences and the impolicy of the measure. 

"Upon the whole I shall hope and expect that the bus- 
iness will be suffered to proceed — and the more so as they 
cannot be ignorant that the further consideration of a 
certain measure in a neighboring State stands postponed 
— for what reason is left to their own information or con- 
jectures. 

"I expect to be with you at the time appointed, and 
should be exceedingly pleased to find all difficulties removed. 
"I am, with great esteem, gentlemen 

Your most obedient servant, 

George Washington. 
Messr. Johnson, Stuart and Carroll, Georgetown." 
Before starting on his Southern trip President Washington, 
whose itinerary had been carefully worked out in advance, 
arranged to meet with the Commissioners on June 27, by which 
time it was calculated he would have returned to Mount Vernon. 
After spending a week at Mount Vernon on the conclusion of 
his trip, riding over his farms and receiving visitors, he went 
to Georgetown as per appointment on June 27th, the particular 
business in hand being to bring the proprietors into line with 
his ideas as to the boundary line which should be adopted for 
the northeastern limits of the city and to obtain the execution 
of conveyances from them which should incorporate a descrip- 
tion adopting the boundary so determined. Among those who had 
protested against the description in the deed as originally drawn 
was Col. Stoddert who owned a tract of land near the Eastern 
Branch and lying just within the boundary as contemplated by 



100 History of the City of Washington. 

the President. Upon this tract was a spring known as Gibson's 
or Cool Spring which delivered a copious flow of water and 
headed a stream which flowed eastward to the Eastern Branch. 
This stream was located just east of the present intersection 
of Fifteenth and E Streets, northeast, and is now used by the 
Hygenic Ice Company. Col. Stoddert desired to have this 
spring excluded from the limits of the proposed city, and 
apparently this was the basis of his opposition to the form of 
the deed as first drawn. At any rate the President, accord- 
ing to his own version of the affair, had little difficulty in 
bringing the proprietors into line except that, either by way 
of compromise or as a favor to his old friend, he agreed to so 
draw the boundary line of the city as to exclude Col. Stoddert 's 
spring. The line as finally agreed upon, instead of continuing 
straight to the Eastern Branch on the course it took at the 
crossing of Reedy Branch of Goose Creek (9th and Florida 
Avenue) takes a course due south at Fifteenth Street and 
Florida Avenue, northeast, continuing to C Street, northeast, 
and following the line of the last named street to the Eastern 
Branch, thus forming the right angled notch which appears 
on the maps of the city at that point.* The incidents of the 
President's stay are recited in the following extracts from his 
diary for that period : 

"Monday 27, June, 1791: Left Mount Vernon for 
Georgetown before six o'clock; and according to appoint- 
ment met the Commissioners at that place by nine. Then 
calling together the proprietors of those lands on which 
the Federal City was proposed to be built who had agreed 
to cede them on certain conditions at the last meeting I 
had with them at this place but from some misconception 
with respect to the extension of their grants had refused 
to make conveyances and recapitulating the principles upon 
which my comns to them at the former meeting were 
made and giving some explanations of the present state of 
matters and the consequences of delay in this business they 
readily waived their objections and agreed to convey to the 
utmost extent of what was required. 

*The Abraham Young Mansion, by Allen C. Clark. Vol. 12, Records 
Col. Hist. Soc. 



History of the City of Washington. 101 

' ' Tuesday, 28th : While the Commissioners were engaged 
in preparing the deeds to be signed by the subscribers this 
afternoon, I went out with Majors L 'Enfant and Ellicott 
to take a more perfect view of the ground in order to 
decide finally on the spots on which to place the public 
buildings and to direct how a line which was to leave out 
a spring (commonly known by the name of the Cool Spring) 
belonging to Major Stoddart should be run. 

"Wednesday, 29th: The deeds which remained 
unexecuted yesterday were signed today and the Dowers 
of their respective wives acknowledged according to law. 
This being accomplished, I called the Several Subscribers 
together and made known to them the spots on which I 
meant to place the buildings for the P : and Executive 
departments of the government — and for the Legislature 
of D°. A Plan was also laid before them of the City in 
order to convey to them general ideas of the City — but they 
were told ihat some deviations from it would take place — 
particularly in the diagonal streets or avenues, which would 
not be so numerous; and in the removal of the Presi- 
dent's house more westerly for the advantage of higher 
ground. They were also told that a Town house, or 
exchange wd be placed on some convenient ground be- 
tween the spots designed for the public buildings before 
mentioned, and it was with much pleasure that a general 
approbation of the measure seemed to pervade the whole. 
"Thursday, 30th: The business which brot me to 
Georgetown being finished and the Commissioners instructed 
with respect to the mode of carrying the plan into effect 
I set off this morning a little after four o'clock in the 
prosecution of my journey to Philadelphia." 
It was either while the President was at Georgetown on 
this occasion or on the occasion of a visit of Major L 'Enfant 
to Mount Vernon that the latter laid his second report and 
tentative plan before the President. 

Major L 'Enfant 's report was dated June 22, 1791. Tn 
this report the Major goes quite fully into his explanation of 
the system of avenues which was to characterize his plan, 
saying :* 

"having first determined some principal points to which 

♦L'Enfant's Communications and Memorials. Vol. 2, Records, Col. 
Hist. Soc. 



102 History of the City of Washington. 

I wished making the rest subordiante I next made the dis- 
tribution regular with streets at right angle north, south 
and east, west but afterwards I opened others on various 
directions as avenues to and from every principal places, 
wishing by this not merely to afford a greater variety of 
pleasant seats and prospect as will be obtained from the 
advantageous ground over the which the avenues are mostly 
directly but principally to connect each part of the city 
with more efficacy by, if I may so express, making the 
real distance less from place to place in menaging on them 
a reciprocity of sight and making them thus seemingly 
connected promot a rapide stellement (settlement) over the 
whole so that the most remot may become an addition to 
the principal while without the help of these divurgents 
communications such settlements if at all attempted would 
be languid, and lost in the extant would become detremental 
to the main establishment." 

He further spoke of his system of avenues as "being com- 
bined to injure (insure) a rapide Intercourse with all the part 
of the City to which they will serve as does the main veins in 
the animal body to diffuse life through smaller vessels in quick- 
ening the active motion of the heart." 

With respect to the points selected by him for the locations 
of the public buildings, he says : 

"After much menutial search for an elligible situation, 
prompted I may say from a fear of being prejudiced in 
favour of a first opinion I could discover no one so 
advantageously to greet the Congressional building as is 
that on the west end of Jenkins heights (Capitol Hill) 
which stand as a pedestal waiting for a monument, and I 
am confident, were all the wood cleared from the ground 
no situation could stand in competition with this. Some 
might perhaps require less labour to be rendered agreeable 
but after all assistance of arts none ever would be made 
so grand and all other would appear but of secondary 
nature. ' ' 

He then proceeds to discuss the location for the President's 
house, in the selection of which President Washington had 
apparently had some voice. He says: 

"that where I determine the seat of the presidial 
palace, in its difference of nature may be view of advantage- 



History of the City of Washington. 103 

ous to the object of adding to the sumptuousness of a palace 
the convenience of a house and the agreeableness of a 
country seat situated on that ridge which attracted your 
attention at the first inspection of the ground on the west 
side of the Tiber entrance it will see 10 or 12 miles down 
the Potowmack front the town and harbor of Alexandria 
and stand to the view of the whole city and have the most 
improved part of it made by addition to those grand 
improvements for which the ground in the dependenly of 
the palace is proper." 
After remarking that he does not anticipate that any 

disadvantage will result from the distance between the Capitol 

and President's House, he continued: 

"to make however the distance less to the other offices 
I placed the three grand Departments of State contiguous 
to the principle Palace and on the way leading to the 
Congressional House the gardens of the one together with 
the park and other improvement on the dependency are 
connected with the publique walk and avenue to the Con- 
gress house in a manner as most form a whole as grand 
as it will be agreeable and convenient to the whole city 
which form (from) the distribution of the local will have 
an early access to this place of general resort and all 
along side of which may be placed play houses, room of 
assembly, academies and all such sort of places as may be 
attractive to the learned and afford diversion to the idle." 
In this he evidently referred to his scheme for the develop- 
ment of the Mall. 

Other explanations set forth his plans for developing the 
Tiber Canal and the park south of the President's house, and 
indicate his intention to place ' ; a grand Equestrian figure" of 
President Washington on the present site of the Washington 
Monument. 

The deeds of which President Washington had secured the 
execution recited that in consideration of five shillings and of the 
uses and trust thereinafter mentioned, the proprietors conveyed 
all their lands within the defined boundaries of the city, except 
such as lay within the limits of Carrollsburgh or Hamburgh, to 
Thomas Beall, son of George, and John Mackall Gantt, in trust 
to be laid out into such streets, squares, parcels and lots as 



104 History of the City of Washington. 

the President might approve for the purpose of the Federal 
City. They provided that the trustees should convey to the 
Commissioners all of the streets and such of the squares, parcels 
and lots as the President should deem proper, the residue of 
the lots to be equally divided between the proprietors. The 
half thus apportioned to the public were to be sold to raise 
money with which to erect the public buildings, but the first 
proceeds were to be applied to reimburse the proprietors for 
the land taken for the public reservations at the rate of £25 
($66) per acre, no payment being made for the land taken 
for streets. 

The full text of the deeds follows: 

"This indenture, made this 29th day of June, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety- 
one,, between (here is inserted the name of the grantor), 
of the State of Maryland, of the one part, and Thomas 
Beall, of George, and John M. Gantt, of the State of Mary- 
land, of the other part, witnesseth : That the said — — 

(the grantor), for and in consideration of the sum of five 
shillings, to him in hand paid by the same Thomas Beall, 
of George, and John M. Gantt, before the sealing and deliv- 
ery of these presents, the receipt whereof he doth hereby 
acknowledge, and thereof doth acquit the said Thomas 
Beall, of George, and John M. Gantt, their executors and 
administrators; and also, for and in consideration of the 
uses and trust hereinafter mentioned, to be performed by 
the said Thomas Beall, of George, and John M. Gantt, and 
the survivor of them, and the heirs of such survivor, accord- 
ing to the true intent and meaning thereof, hath granted, 
bargained, sold, aliened, released, and confirmed, and by 
these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, and 
confirm unto the said Thomas Beall, of George, and John 
M. Gantt, and the survivor of them, and the heirs of such 
survivor, all the lands of him, the said (grantor) lying 
and being within the following limits, boundaries, anld 
lines, to wit: Beginning on the east side, of Rock Creek, 
at a stone standing in the middle of the main road leading 
from Georgetown to Bladensburg; thence along the middle 
of the said road to a stone standing on the east side of the 
Reedy Branch of Goose Creek; thence southeasterly, mak- 
ing an angle of 61 degrees and twenty minutes with the 
meridian, to a stone standing in the road leading from 



History of the City of Washington. 105 

Bladensburg to the Eastern Branch ferry; thence south, 
to a stone eighty poles north of the east and west line 
already drawn from the mouth of Goose Creek, to the 
Eastern Branch; then east, parallel to the said east-and- 
west line, to the Eastern Branch; thence by and with the 
waters of the Eastern Branch, Potomac River, and Rock 
Creek to the beginning, with their appurtenances, except 

all and every lot and lots of which the said 

(the grantor) is seized or to which he is entitled in Car- 
rollsburgh or Hamburgh; to have and to hold the hereby 
bargained and sold lands with their appurtenances to the 
said Thomas Beall of George and John M. Gantt, and the 
survivor of them, and the heirs of such survivor forever : 
To and for the special trust following, and no other; that 
is to say: That all the said lands hereby bargained and 
sold, or such part thereof as may be thought necessary or 
proper to be laid out, together with other lands within 
the said limits, for a Federal City, with such streets, 
squares, parcels, and lots as the President of the United 
States for the time being shall approve; and that the said 
Thomas Beall of George and John M. Gantt, or the 
survivor of them, or the heirs of such survivor shall con- 
vey to the Commissioners for the time being, appointed 
by virtue of the act of Congress entitled 'An act for estab- 
lishing the temporary and permanent seat of the Govern- 
ment of the United States,' and their successors, for the 
use of the United States forever, all the said streets and 
such of the said squares, parcels, and lots as the President 
shall deem proper, for the use of the United States; and 
that as to the residue of the said lots, into which the said 
lands hereby bargained and sold shall have been laid off 
and divided, that a fair and equal division of them shall 
be made. And if no other mode of division shall be agreed 

on by consent of the said — — (the grantor and 

the Commissioners for the time being, then such residue 
of the said lots shall be divided, every other lot alternate 

to the said (the grantor), and it shall, in 

that event, be determined by lot, whether the said 

(the grantor) shall begin with the lot of the lowest 

number laid out on the said lands or the following number. 
"And all the said lots which may in any manner be 

divided or assigned to the said — — (the grantor^ 

shatl, thereupon, together with any part of the bargained 
and J sold lands, if any, which shall not have been laid out 



106 History of the City of Washington. 

in the said city, be conveyed by the said Thomas Beall of 
George and John M. Gantt, or the survivor of them, or the 

heirs of such survivor, to him, the said (the 

grantor) , his heirs and assigns. And that the said other lots 
shall and may be sold at such time or times, in such man- 
ner, and on such terms and conditions as the President of 
the United States for the time being shall direct; and that 
the said Thomas Beall of George and John M. Gantt, or 
the survivor of them, or the heirs of such survivor, will, 
on the order and direction of the President, convey all the 
said lots so sold and ordered to be conveyed, to the respec- 
tive purchasers in fee simple, according to the terms and 
conditions of such purchases; and the produce of the sales 
of the said lots when sold as aforesaid shall in the first 

place be applied to the payment in money to the said 

(the grantor), his executors, administrators, or 

assigns, for all the part of the land hereby bargained and 
sold which shall have been laid off into lots, squares, or 
parcels, and appropriated as aforesaid to the use of the 
United States, at the rate of twenty-five pounds per acre, 
not accounting the said streets as part thereof. 

"And the said twenty-five pounds per acre, being so 
paid, or in any other manner satisfied, that then the 
produce of the same sale, or what thereof may remain as 
aforesaid, in money or securities of any kind, shall be paid, 
assigned, transferred, and delivered over to the President 
of the United States, for the time being, as a grant of 
money, and to be applied for the purposes and according 
to the act of Congress aforesaid. But the said conveyance 

to the said (the grantor), his heirs or 

assigns, as well as the conveyance to the purchasers, shall 
be on, and subject to such terms and conditions as shall 
be thought reasonable, by the President, for the time being, 
for regulating the materials and manner of the buildings 
and improvements on the lots, generally, in the said city, 
or in particular streets, or parts thereof, for common 
convenience, safety, and order: Provided, Such terms and 
conditions be declared before the sales of any of the said 
lots, under the direction of the President. And in trust 

further, and on the agreement that the said 

(the grantor), his heirs or assigns, shall and may continue 
his possession and occupation of the said lands hereby 
bargained and sold, at his and their will and pleasure, until 
they shall be occupied under the said appropriations for 



History of the City of Washington. 107 

the use of the United States as aforesaid, or by purchasers ; 
and when any lots or parcels shall be occupied under pur- 
chase or appropriations as aforesaid, then, and not until 

then, shall the said (the grantor) relinquish 

his occupation thereof. And in trust also, as to the trees, 

timber, and wood, on the premises, that he the said 

— (the grantor) his heirs or assigns, may freely cut 

down, take, and carry away, and use the same as his and 
their property, except such of the trees and wood grow- 
ing as the President or commissioners aforesaid may judge 
proper, and give notice, shall be left for ornaments, for 
which the just and reasonable value shall be paid to the 
said (the grantor), his executors, adminis- 
trators, or assigns, exclusive of the twenty-five pounds per 
acre for the land. 

"And in case the arrangements of the streets, lots, and 
the like will conveniently admit of it, he the said 

(the grantor), his heirs or assigns, if he so desire 

it, shall possess and retain his buildings and graveyard, 
if any, on the hereby bargained and sold land, paying to 
the President at the rate of twelve pounds ten shillings 
per acre for the lands so retained, because of such build- 
ings and graveyards, to be applied as aforesaid, and the 

same shall thereupon be conveyed to the said 

(the grantor), his heirs or assigns, with his lots. But if 
the arrangements of the streets, lots, and the like will not 
conveniently admit of such retention, and it shall become 
necessary to remove such buildings, then the said 

(the grantor), his executors, administrators, or 

assigns, shall be paid the reasonable value thereof in the 
same manner as squares or other ground appropriated for 
the use of the United States are to be paid for. And be- 
cause it may so happen that dj deaths or removals of the 
said Thomas Beall, of George, and John M. Gantt, and 
from other causes, difficulties may occur in fully perfect- 
ing the said trusts, by executing all the said conveyances, 
if no eventual provision is made, it is therefore agreed and 
covenanted between all the said parties, that the said 
Thomas Beall, of George, and John M. Gantt, or either 
of them, or the heirs of any of them, lawfully may, and 
that they, at any time, at the request of the President of 
the United States for the time being, will convey all or 
any of the said lands hereby bargained and sold, which 
shall not then have been conveyed in execution of the trusts 



108 History of the City of Washington. 

aforesaid, to such person or persons as he shall appoint, in 
fee simple, subject to the trusts then remaining to be 
executed, and to the end that some may be perfected. 

"And it is further granted and agreed between all the 
said parties, and each of the said parties doth for himself, 
respectively, and his heirs, covenant and grant to and 
with the others of them, that he and they shall and will, 
if required by the President of the United States for the 
time being, join in and execute any further deed or deeds 
for carrying into effect the trusts, purposes, and true intent 
of this present deed. In witness whereof the parties to 
these presents have hereunto set their hands and affixed 
their seals the day and year first above written. 
Signed by the grantor. 

. [Seal.] 

Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of — ' ' 
The question of the authorship of these deeds, from which 
the greater part of the titles to land within the original limits 
of the city are commonly regarded as dating, is a subject for 
interesting speculation. Mr. Johnson undoubtedly drew them. 
In his letter to the Commissioners of April 3rd, almost imme- 
diately following the execution of the preliminary agreement 
by the proprietors, President Washington wrote : 

' ' The form of the conveyances as drawn by the Attorney 
General will, I presume, require alteration or a counter- 
part, as the present agreement essentially differs from the 
former. If Mr. Johnson could conveniently undertake to 
prepare such a deed as he thinks would answer all the 
purposes both of the public and the Grantees I am sure 
it would be efficiently done. If this cannot be, then it 
might be well to furnish the Attorney-General of the United 
States with a copy of the agreement with the papers I 
left with you and such other information as will enable 
him to do it." 

Following this letter is the record of the proceedings of 
the Commissioners from April 12, 1791, before quoted, wherein 
it is recited, that the form of the conveyance to Trustees was 
that day presented by Mr. Johnson and agreed to by the Com- 
missioners. 

The letter from President Washington to the Commission- 
ers, however, indicates that a form of deed had already been 



History of the City of Washington. 109 

prepared by the Attorney General, Edmund Randolph, and to 
what extent Mr. Johnson used this form in drawing the deed 
it is difficult to say. 

The participation of the Attorney General is further indicat- 
ed by a note from President Washington to Mr. Jefferson dated 
Sunday, March 6, 1791, wherein he says: 

"The President would thank Mr. Jefferson for placing 
all, or such of the enclosed papers (after he has perused 
them) in the hands of the Attorney General as he shall 
deem necessary for the purpose of drawing the several 
documents of the Ceded Lands or, the form of one. If the 
former, it is conceived further information than the enclos- 
ures contain is wanting. If the latter, the agreement, and 
perhaps the plat to which it refers, is all that is necessary ; 
but the plat referred to, does not apply to the subsequent 
purchasers. ' ' 

But while the evidence would thus strongly tend to show 
the joint authorship of the deeds to have been in Mr. Randolph 
and Mr. Johnson, there is evidence worthy of serious consider- 
ation indicating the possibility of Mr. Jefferson's having had 
a hand in this as in so many other matters connected with the 
task of starting the city on its road to actual existence. 

In the letter which Mr. Jefferson wrote to the President 
on September 17, 1790, relating the results of his and Mr. 
Madison's interviews with General Mason, he enclosed a 
memorandum setting forth the substance of a proposed deed 
which he desired the President to forward to Mr. Charles Car- 
roll with whom the subject had been discussed. This memoran- 
dum was evidently drawn with the idea that the proprietors 
would sell their lands outright, as the scheme of a division 
between the proprietors and the government is not provided 
for therein. Nevertheless, the provisions set forth in Mr. 
Jefferson's memorandum are so similar to those of the deeds 
in trust as finally prepared that the conclusion is almost irresist- 
ible that Mr. Jefferson's memorandum was in large measure 
used either by the Attorney General or by Mr. Johnson as the 
foundation upon which the deeds were framed. It reads: 

"The Conveyance to be executed, according to the form 



110 History of the City of Washington. 

of the laws of Maryland, by the Proprietors of the land 
designated by the President for the Federal seat. 

"The preamble to recite the substance of that part of 
the Residence Act which authorizes the President to receive 
grants of lands or money for the use of the United States 
and to declare that the object of the conveyance is to furnish 
both Land and money for their use. The body of the deed 
to convey the lands designated for the city (suppose 1500 
acres) to A and B and their heirs in trust for the follow- 
ing purposes: 

"1. To reconvey to the commissioners their heirs and 
successors to be named by the President, such portions of 
the said lands as the President shall designate for the site 
of the public buildings, public walks, streets, &c, to remain 
for the use of the United States. 

"2. To reconvey the residue of such lands, to such per- 
sons, and on such conditions as the Commissioners shall 
direct, for the purpose of raising money, and the money 
when received to be granted to the President for the use 
of the United States according to the Residence Act. 

"The effect of this last clause will be such that the 
President (without any further legislation from Congress) 
may proceed to lay out the town immediately into 1, pub- 
lic lots; 2 public walks and gardens; 3 private lots for 
sale; 4 streets. The 1, 2 and 4th articles to be reconveyed 
to the Commissioners, and the 3rd to private purchasers 
as above proposed. It is understood that this conveyance 
will have been preceded by articles of agreement signed 
by all the proprietors of the lands in and about those 
several spots which have such obvious advantages as ren- 
der it presumable to every one that some one of them will 
attract the President's notice and choice." 
Not all the land within the city was conveyed to the Trus- 
tees at the time the first deeds were executed. The record of 
the proceedings of the* Commissioners for that day (June 29, 
1791) recites that the deeds of trust executed by Robert Peter, 
Notley Young, Benjamin Stoddard, James Pierce, Anthony 
Holmead, Daniel Carroll of Dnddington, James M. Lingan, 
David Bumes, Jonathan Slater, Samuel Davidson, William 
Young, Abraham Young, Charles Beatty, Clement Woodward, 
and George Walker, were lodged in the care of the Commis- 
sioners and they directed their Secretary to have them recorded 



History of the City of Washington, 111 

in due time in the General Court Records. The proceedings 
for the same day recite that Messrs. U. Forrest, Wm. Bayly, 
Philip R. Fendall and Wm. Deakins, Junior, entered into an 
agreement to convey about five hundred acres under the terms 
of the other deeds of trust as soon as required after obtaining 
deed from John "Warring and that Jonathan Slater previous 
to executing his deed entered into an agreement that if the 
contract he had made with John Prout should not take effect 
he would subject the land concerning which it was made to 
the same terms as the other lands were by the proprietors 
subjected within the proposed limits of the Federal City, and 
that whether the contract should take place or not he would 
subject his land reserved out of that contract to the same terms. 

On September 3, 1791, Mr. Johnson submitted to the Com- 
missioners the form of the deeds to be used for the Hamburgh 
and Carrollsburgh lots and rapid progress was made in secur- 
ing the execution of the deeds by such of the owners as were 
competent and could be located. These deeds conveyed all the 
general grantors' lots in Hamburgh and Carrollsburgh subject 
to the trusts named in the other deeds and provided that one- 
half the quantity of land thereby bargained and sold should 
be conveyed as near the old situations as possible to the grant- 
ors so that each respective former proprietor should have made 
up to him one-half of his former quantity in as good a situa- 
tion as before, but that if from appropriations for the use of 
the United States one-half could not be assigned in like situa- 
tion as before, satisfaction should be made in ground in the 
city to be agreed upon or if the proprietors and commission- 
ers could not agree the proprietors should be compensated in 
money to be raised by a sale of such parts of the lots conveyed 
as should remain clear of appropriations, the proceeds to be 
applied first to compensate the proprietors and the remainder 
to go to the President as a grant of money for the purposes 
of the city, the sales to be subject to such building regulations 
as might be established. 

By means of the various deeds above mentioned all the 
lands within the limits of the city, except such as belonged 



112 History of the City of Washington. 

to persons incompetent to convey or to such as could not be 
reached, came eventually into the hands of the Trustees Beall 
and Gantt, the Commissioners by a memorial to the Maryland 
Legislature dated September 8, 1791, reporting as follows: 

"That within these Limits (i. e. as outlined in the deeds 
of trust) your memorialists do not know nor have reason 
to believe that there are any proprietors and possessors 
who have not come into the common terms of agreement 
except Elizabeth the wife of Aquilla Wheeler who is said 
to be insane and whose husband is willing her land should 
be subjected in the same manner as the land of others, 
the minor Children of Stephen West, whose nearest friends 
have agreed to subscribe for their own parts and wish the 
lands of the minors to be put on the same footing, and the 
heirs of Joseph Coones and some of the persons entitled 
to Lands in Carrollsburgh and Hamburgh though but a few 
of them considering their dispersed situation. That some 
lots belonging to persons absent, and may have been trans- 
mitted by descent and devise, the heirs and devisees in 
some cases being minors." 

The titles to such parcels of land as were not conveyed to 
the trustees, Beall and Gantt by the deeds before described 
were acquired under the provision of an Act of Maryland to 
be later referred to more at length. 

It is a matter of interest that the execution of the deeds 
to the greater part of the property within the boundaries of 
the city, on June 29, 1791, occurred approximately one year 
after the passage of the act to establish the temporary and 
permanent seat of Government. Within that time President 
Washington, notwithstanding the manifold public matters of 
gravest import which claimed his attention as Chief Executive 
of the new Republic, and which enforced his presence the 
greater part of the time at Philadelphia, had inspected the 
entire territory mentioned in the Act, selected the site and 
determined upon the boundaries of both the Federal Territory 
and the Federal City ; had brought about the acquisition of the 
greater part of the land for the city, and had seen the plan- 
ning of the city well advanced towards completion. Such an 
achievement furnishes some idea of the extraordinary caliber 
of the man. 



m 



CHAPTER IV 



The First Board of Commissioners 

• HEN President Washington left Georgetown on June 
30th, 1791, the day after the execution of the deeds 
in trust by the conciliated proprietors, he in large 
measure shifted the burden of responsibility for the progress 
of the city from his own shoulders which up to that time had 
chiefly borne it, to the shoulders of the Commissioners. 

The President in dealing with the proprietors of the land 
had found his task no easy one, but the eagerness of the latter 
to have the city located upon their lands, added to President 
Washington's prestige and the force of his personality, had 
enabled him to overcome all difficulties without serious opposi- 
tion. The case with the Commissioners was different. The 
prospect of funds from the sale of lots, upon which President 
Washington calculated for the prosecution of the public works, 
fell far short of materialization. The expectations of a rapid 
development and settling up of the city and of early wealth 
to accrue to the proprietors therefrom, which had been President 
Washington's chief argument in dealing with the proprietors, 
proved to have been founded on an undue optimism. Misunder- 
standings and quarrels resulted in breaches between the Com- 
missioners and their most important subordinates, which, added 
to their shortage of funds, contributed greatly to hinder the 
prosecution of the work. Among the proprietors were some 
whose disappointment, joining with the hostility of the enemies 
of the city, manifested itself in criticism and abuse amount- 
ing at times almost to vilification. 

Through these tribulations the Commissioners pursued their 
course with a singleness of purpose and a devotion to the object 



114 History of the City of Washington. 

of their appointment which has placed the nation under an 
obligation to them which has been singularly overlooked. 
Frequent mention is heard of the desirability of according 
recognition, by some adequate memorial, to the designer of the 
plan of the Capital City, and it is indeed fitting that this should 
be done. But equally fitting would be some appropriate 
acknowledgment of the debt which is owing to the Com- 
missioners who bore the brunt of the administrative labor of 
preparing the city and public buildings for the reception of 
the government. Particularly is such recognition due to the 
three original Commissioners, Daniel Carroll, Thomas Johnson 
and David Stuart, who organized the administrative details of 
the work and continued in control of it until the processes of 
establishing the Federal City were fairly on the way to success. 

In following the story of the founding of the city, it is 
gratifying to note one bright and compensating aspect of the 
Commissioners ' connection therewith ; namely, the unwavering 
loyalty which President Washington at all times displayed 
towards them. In every contingency he sustained their dignity 
and authority, and insisted upon their being accorded recogni- 
tion as his accredited and plenipotentiary agents. "With a few 
rare exceptions when especial exigencies or the slowness of com- 
munication made it necessary for him to vary his rule, he 
refused to consider matters coming within the scope of their 
functions until passed upon by the Commissioners and their 
recommendations made; and practically without exception sus- 
tained their acts and decisions. 

In following the proceedings of the Commissioners it is 
well to bear in mind that none of the three original members 
of the board lived at the scene of operations. Mr. Johnson 
lived at Frederick, Maryland, Doctor Stuart at Alexandria, and 
Mr. Carroll near the present station of Forest Glen, Maryland. 
The Commissioners usually met once a month, and their meet- 
ings often lasted for a week or longer. Communications requir- 
ing special action were generally sent to Mr. Carroll as most 
convenient to Georgetown; and he in turn summoned his 
colleagues by express messengers. 

At the first meeting of the Commissioners on April 12, 



History of the City of Washington. 115 

1791, John M. Gantt was appointed Secretary. On June 30, 
William Deakins was appointed Treasurer; his compensation 
to be one per cent of the amount of money paid out by him. 
He was required to give bond in the sum of £10,000 ($26,600) 
and qualified with Benjamin Stoddert and Thomas Beall as his 
bondsmen. He was directed, in the event of the anticipated 
establishment of a bank of deposit or branch of the bank of 
the United States of Alexandria, to lodge there all moneys 
beyond eight hundred dollars which should come to his hands, 
subject to be drawn by him as wanted. On October 22d, Thomas 
Cooke was appointed clerk and bookkeeper. 

The Commissioners served for nearly two years without 
salary until March 4, 1793, when on the recommendation of 
the President it was resolved that they be allowed one thousand 
dollars per year each. 

The task which it became the duty of the Commissioners 
to superintend, aside from completing the acquisition of the land 
within the limits of the city, which, it will be remembered, had 
been only partly accomplished by President "Washington, may 
be summarized as consisting first, in the perfection of the plan 
of the city; second, in surveying, platting and marking the 
streets, reservations, squares and lots; third, in effecting divis- 
ions of the lots with the proprietors; fourth, in raising the 
money needed for the erection of the public buildings and for 
the expenses of administration — this by collecting the Virginia 
and Maryland grants, by the sale of lots, and by negotiating 
loans ; and lastly, in the erection of the public buildings and 
the completion of such other public improvements as the needs 
of the city dictated and the means at hand permitted. 

It was deemed imperative by the President to hold a sale 
of lots at the earliest possible date, and when he left the Com- 
missioners after obtaining the execution of the deeds of trust 
on June 29, it was with instructions to proceed vigorously with 
that purpose in view. 

Accordingly at their meeting the day after his departure, 
the following advertisement was directed to be published in the 
Georgetown Weekly Ledger: 



116 History of the City of Washington. 

"Georgetown, 30th June, 1791. 
"The President having approved the scites of ground for 
the public buildings to be erected in pursuance of the Act 
of Congress for establishing the Temporary and permanent 
seat of Government of the United States, the Commission- 
ers appointed in virtue of that act will meet at George 
Town on Thursday the seventeenth day of October next 
and proceed to sell at vendue a number of Lots in the 
best Situations in the Federal City. A deposit of eight 
per cent will be required. The residue to be on bond with 
security payable in three equal yearly payments. The 
regulations as to the manner of Improvements and other 
circumstances will be made known at the sale. 

Thomas Johnson, 
David Stuart, 
Danl. Carroll, 

Commissioners. 
"Printers throughout the United States are requested to 
insert the above in their papers. ' ' 

Meanwhile, Major L 'Enfant was proceeding vigorously with 
his work of laying out the city, with the assistance of Major 
Ellicott who had been called in from the work of running the 
boundary lines of the ten miles square in order that the survey 
of the city might be sufficiently advanced for the October sales. 
As to the manner in which the basis for the survey of the 
city was established, the legend upon Major L 'Enfant 's map 
entitled "Observations Explanatory of the Plan," affords the 
following interesting information : 

' ' First. The positions for the different grand edifices, and 
for the several grand squares or areas of different shapes, 
as they are laid down, were first determined on the most 
advantageous ground, commanding the most extensive pros- 
pect, and the better susceptible of such improvements as 
the various intents of the several objects may require. 

"Secondly. Lines or avenues of direct communication 
have been devised to connect the separate and most distance 
objects with the principal, and to preserve through the 
whole a reciprocity of sight at the same time. Attention 
has been paid to the passing of those leading avenues over 
the most favorable ground for prospect and convenience. 

"Thirdly. North and south lines, intersected by others 
running due east and west, make the distribution of the 



History of tlie City of Washington. 117 

city into streets, squares, etc., and those lines have been so 
combined as to meet at certain given points with those 
divergent avenues, so as to form on the spaces first deter- 
mined the different squares or areas, which are all propor- 
tioned in magnitude to the number of avenues leading to 
them. ' ' 
L 'Enfant then states how these lines were drawn. 

"In order to execute the above plan, Mr. Ellicott drew 
a true meridional line by celestial observation, which passes 
through the area intended for the Congress House. This line 
is crossed by another line due east and west, which passes 
through the same area. These lines were accurately meas- 
ured and made the bases on which the whole plan was 
executed. He ran all the lines by a transit instrument, and 
determined the acute angles by actual measurement, and 
left nothing to the uncertainly of the compass." 
The line due east and west mentioned by L 'Enfant was 
doubtless the same line as that referred to in the deeds in trust 
as "the east and west line already drawn from the mouth of 
Goose Creek to the Eastern Branch." 

The "Observations" furnish the further information that 
in the space now occupied by Lincoln Square near the terminus 
of East Capitol Street, it was proposed to erect "a historic 
column, also intended for a mile or itinerary Column, from 
whose station (a mile from the Federal house) all distances of 
places through the continent are to be calculated." 

Much speculation has been indulged in as to the reasons 
for the adoption of the diagonal avenues as a feature of the 
plan, and as to the source from which L 'Enfant obtained the 
idea of employing them. On the former question it has been 
suggested that the diagonals centering upon the open reserva- 
tions were designed to facilitate movements of troops from one 
part of the city to another in the event of riots; the park 
spaces affording room for concentration. L 'Enfant however, 
makes no reference to such a purpose in any of his official com- 
munications, extracts from which, bearing upon this question 
were quoted in the preceding chapter. Whether the idea of 
employing these diagonals in his plan originated in his own 
mind or was suggested by plans of other cities is problematical. 
Mr. Glenn Brown, in an illustrated article in Volume 6, of the 



118 History of the City of Washington. 

Records of the Columbia Historical Society, suggests that either 
Sir Christopher Wrenn's plan for the rebuilding of London 
after the fire, or the plans of Annapolis, Maryland, or Williams- 
burg, Virgiuia, may have furnished the idea. From the illus- 
tration given by Mr. Brown of the plan of Annapolis, the conclu- 
sion is hard to resist that it was from this source, if from any 
other than his own mind, that L 'Enfant received his inspira- 
tion. This plan shows two centers: the State House Circle and 
the Church Circle, highly suggestive of L 'Enfant 's centers at 
the Capitol and President's House, each having its radiating 
system of streets and both lying in the course of one of the 
chief thoroughfares of the town. The plan is startlingly sug- 
gestive of L 'Enfant 's plan for the federal city. L 'Enfant was 
doubtless familiar Arith the town, or at least had access to a 
plan of it; whereas there is no evidence that he ever saw Sir 
Christopher Wrenn's proposed plan for the rebuilding of Lon- 
don. Letters quoted in the preceding chapter, show that in 
his request to Mr. Jefferson for the plans of foreign cities which 
had been collected by the latter, he mentioned that of London ; 
but Mr. Jefferson, in his letter enumerating the plans sent to 
L 'Enfant in response to this request, makes no mention either 
of the plan of London or of Sir Christopher Wrenn's proposed 
plan of it. 

The result of the labors of those engaged in this work was 
that by the middle of August Major L 'Enfant had completed 
his plan which he took to Philadelphia for the President's inspec- 
tion. With his plan, Major L 'Enfant submitted a lengthy 
statement largely consisting of a very cogent argument in favor 
of a postponement of the contemplated sale of lots. In setting 
forth the state of progress of the federal city he allows his 
characteristic enthusiasm to manifest itself in the following: 

"Brought to the point as matters do now stand enough 
is done to satisfy every one of an earnestness in the process 
of Execution — and the spots assigned for the Federal House 
and for the President's palace in exhibiting the most 
sumptuous aspect and claiming already the suffrage of a 
crowd of daily visitors both natives and foreigners, will 
serve to give a grand idea of the whole, but nevertheless it 
is to be wished more may be done to favor a sale — this being 



History of the City of Washington. 119 

to serve very little towards evidencing the beauties of local 
(ities) reserved for private settlements all being absolutely 
lost in the chaos of pulled timber without possibility to 
judge of the advantages of relative conveniency much less 
of agreement, to be derived from improvements intended in 
a surrounding local of which but few can form an idea 
when after inspecting a map. 

"The Grand avenue connecting both the palace and the 
federal House will be most magnificent and most convenient, 
— the Streets running west of the upper square of the 
federal House, and which terminate in an easy slope on 
the canal through the tiber which it will overlook for the 
space of above two miles will be beautiful above what may 
be imagined — those other streets parallel to that canal, 
those crossing over it and which are as many avenues to 
the grand walk from the water cascade under the federal 
House to the President's Park and dependency extending 
to the bank of the Potomac, and also the several Squares 
or area such as are intended for the Judiciary court — the 
national bank — the grand church — the play House — the 
Market and exchange — all through will offer a variety of 
situations unparalleled in point of beauties — suitable to 
every purpose and in every point convenient; both are 
devised for the first offset of the City and combined to 
command the highest price in a sale." 

This plan, it may be here stated, was submitted by the 
President to Congress for its inspection on December 13, 1791, 
with the following brief comment : 

"Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives: 
I place before you the plan of the city that has been laid out 
within the district of ten miles square, which was fixed upon 
for the permanent seat of the Government of the United States. ' ' 
It was shortly after withdrawn to be used by Major 
L 'Enfant in preparing the draft for the engraver. 

While Major L 'Enfant was in Philadelphia with his plan 
he was requested by the President to hold a conference with a 
number of persons interested in the new city, among them Mr. 
Jefferson and Mr. Madison. As the result of this conference 
it was decided that Mr. Madison and Mr. Jefferson should stop 
at Georgetown on their way to Virginia a little later, and 
obtain the views of the Commissioners relative to the matters 



120 History of the City of Washington. 

which had been discussed at the Philadelphia conference. Pur- 
suant to appointment, Mr. Madison and Mr. Jefferson met with 
the Commissioners at Georgetown on September 8th, 1791, and 
went at length into many details with reference to the policy 
to be followed in establishing the City. Mr. Jefferson came 
equipped with a set of questions, which with the answers agreed 
upon by the Commissioners, are set forth in the record of the 
meeting. 

Mr. Jefferson 's report to the President of the action taken 
by the Commissioners is but one of the many testimonials to 
be found to the complete liberty of judgment and action on the 
part of the Commissioners upon which the President at all 
times insisted. Writing on September 8, 1791, the day of the 
meeting, Mr. Jefferson says : 

"We were detained on the road by the rains so that we 
did not arrive here till yesterday about ten o'clock; as 
soon as horses could be got ready we set out and rode till 
dark, examining chiefly the grounds newly laid open, which 
we found much superior to what we had imagined, — we 
have passed this day in consultation with the Commission- 
ers, who having deliberated on every article contained in 
our paper and preadmonished that they should decide free- 
ly on their own view of things, concurred unanimously on, 
I believe every point with what had been thought best in 
Philadelphia." 

Prom the record of the Commissioners' meeting for that 
day, it appears that Major L 'Enfant 's recommendations in 
favor of a postponement of the coming sale were considered 
and overruled; that the question of attempting to effect a loan 
on the security of the public's share of the lots in the city was 
discussed and decided to be impracticable until the approximate 
value of the property should be established at a sale, as well 
as being of doubtful legality without previous legislation ; that 
it was decided to increase the ready money deposits on sales of 
lots to one-fourth ; that the building of a bridge over the Eastern 
Branch, the digging of the Tiber Creek Canal and the construc- 
tion of wharves on the river below Rock Creek as had been 
proposed by Mr. Peter of Georgetown were postponed for want 
of funds ; that no wooden houses should be allowed in the town ; 



History of the City of Washington. 121 

that it was concluded (doubtless in accordance to Mr. Jeffer- 
son's pronounced views on the subject) that liberty should be 
allowed as to the distance of buildings from the streets, but 
some limit placed upon their heights — no house wall to be higher 
than thirty-five feet in any part of the town and none lower 
than that on any of the avenues; that it was determined that 
the digging of earth for bricks the coming fall was indispensible, 
the procuring of other materials to depend upon the funds; 
that it was thought advisable to advertise a prize for the best 
plans for the public buildings ; that encroachments in the streets 
such as stoops or projections of every kind should be prohibited; 
that the plan of the city should be engraved; that the names 
of the streets should be alphabetical one way and numerical the 
other, the former to be divided into north and south letters, 
the latter into east and west numbers from the "Capitol;" 
that lots with springs on them should be appropriated to the 
public if practicable without too much discontent, the springs 
not to be sold again; that the public squares should be left 
blank except that for the Capitol and one for the executive 
department, which should be considered as appropriated ; that 
soundings of the Eastern Branch should be made and a post 
road established through the city; and lastly that the name of 
the city and territory should be "City of Washington and 
Territory of Columbia." 

On September 9, 1791, the day following this meeting, the 
Commissioners wrote to Major L 'Enfant at Philadelphia: 

""We have agreed that the federal District shall be called 
'The Territory of Columbia,' and the federal City 'The City 
of Washington,' the title of the map will, therefore, be 
'A Map of the City of Washington in the Territory of 
Columbia.' 

"We have also agreed the streets be named alphabetically 
one way, and numerically the other; the former divided into 
North and South letters, the latter into East and West num- 
bers from the Capitol." 

On Major L'Enfant's return from Philadelphia the Com- 
missioners, by a resolution dated September 24th. 1791. instrnet- 
ed him to employ on the first Monday in October next one 
hundred and fifty laborers to throw up clay at the President's 



122 History of the City of Washington. 

House and the house of Congress and in doing such other work 
connected with the post road and the public buildings as he 
should think most proper to have immediately executed. He 
was also instructed to have three hundred copies of the plan 
of the federal city transmitted to such parts of the Northern 
states as he should think proper and to keep the remainder 
subject to the directions of the Commissioners. The time set 
for the first sale of lots was rapidly approaching and was doubt- 
less looked forward to with much concern by both the President 
and the Commissioners, for the result of this sale was to be 
an indication of the probable success or failure of the scheme 
for financing the city from the sale of lots. Major L 'Enfant 
and Major Ellicott with their assistants were bending every 
energy to completing the survey of a number of squares in 
preparation for the sale. Pursuant to a recommendation which 
Major Ellicott had made, the lots which it was decided to offer 
were to be those in the neighborhood of the Capitol and Presi- 
dent's House, these being deemed the most desirable. 

On October 14, the Commissioners met and adopted the 
form of the bond to be given by purchasers to secure the 
deferred payments on the lots purchased and also the form of 
the certificate of sale to be furnished to purchasers of lots; 
and had a quantity of both forms printed for use at the sale. 
On October 16, the Commissioners adopted the following build- 
ing regulations which were promulgated over the President's 
name at the sale the following day : 

"1st. That the outer and party walls of all houses within 
the said city, shall be built of brick or stone. 

"2nd. That all buildings on the streets shall be parallel 
thereto, and may be advanced to the line of the street, or 
withdrawn therefrom, at the pleasure of the improver: but 
where any such building is about to be erected, neither the 
foundation or party wall shall be begun, without first apply- 
ing to the person or persons appointed by the commission- 
ers to superintend the buildings within the city, who will 
ascertain the lines of the walls to correspond with these 
regulations. 

"3rd. The wall of no house to be higher than forty feet 
to the roof, in any part of the city; nor shall any be lower 
than thirty-five feet on any of the avenues. 



History of the City of Washington. 123 

"4th. That the person or persons appointed by the com- 
missioners to superintend the buildings, may enter on the 
land of any person to set out the foundation and regulate 
the walls to be built between party and party, as to the 
breadth and thickness thereof: which foundation shall be 
laid equally upon the lands of the persons between whom 
such party walls are to be built, and shall be of the width 
and thickness determined by such person proper; and the* 
first builder shall be reimbursed one moiety of the charge 
of such party wall, or so much thereof as the next builder 
shall have occasion to make use of, before such next builder 
shall any ways use or break into the walls. The charge 
or value thereof, to be set by the person or persons appoint- 
ed by the commissioners. 

"5th. As temporary conveniences will be proper, for lodg- 
ing workmen, and securing material for building, it is to 
be understood that such may be erected, with the approba- 
tion of the commissioners: but they may be removed or 
discontinued by the special order of the commissioners. 

"6th. The way into the squares, being designed, in a 
special manner, for the common use and convenience of the 
occupiers of the respect squares, the property in the same 
is reserved to the public, so that there may be an immediate 
interference on any abuse of the use thereof by any individ- 
ual, to the nuisance or obstruction of others. The propriet- 
ors of the lots adjoining the entrance into the squares, on 
arching over the entrance, and fixing gates in the manner 
the commissioners shall approve, shall be entitled to divide 
the space over the arching, and built it up with the range 
of that line of the square. 

"7th. No vaults shall be permitted under the streets, nor 
any encroachments on the footway above, by steps, stoops, 
porches, cellar doors, windows, ditches, or leaning walls, 
nor shall there be any projection over the street, other than 
the eaves of the house without the consent of the commis- 
sioners. 

"8th. These regulations are the terms and conditions un- 
der and upon which conveyances are to be made,, according 
to the deeds in trust of the lands within the city. 

George Washington." 

The seventh regulation was amended on July 7th, 1794, to 
permit of area ways seven feet in breadth secured by a free- 



124 History of the City of Washington. 

stone wall raised eighteen inches above the surface having a 
neat iron pallisading four feet high in the center thereof. 

Before the sale commenced, the Commissioners issued the 
following announcement : 

"All the Lots purchased at this sale are to be subject to 
the Terms and conditions declared by the President pur- 
suant to the deeds in Trust. The purchaser is immediately 
to pay one-four part of the purchase money; and to secure 
the payment of one Third yearly with six per cent Interest 
on the whole by bond with good security: But if any pay- 
ment is not made at the date the whole is to be recovered 
in one suit and execution. 

"The purchaser is to be entitled to a deed on the whole 
purchase money and Interest being paid and not before. 
No bid under twenty Shillings to be received." 
Before the sale began the Commissioners announced that 
every facility the public convenience would admit of would be 
given to purchasers, and that the latter would meet with that 
disposition in the Commissioners; but that if the terms of sale 
were not complied with nor any accommodation agreed upon 
for the convenience of the purchaser, the sale should be bind- 
ing or not at the option of the Commissioners. 

The sale continued from the 17th to the 19th of October 
with James McKenna acting as vendue master. The result was 
that thirty-one lots were sold at prices ranging from sixty-five 
pounds Maryland currency ($173), to one hundred and fifty 
pounds ($400). The Commissioners in reporting the results 
of this sale to the President stated that to accommodate some 
strangers they were obliged to agree that the land should stand 
as security subject to forfeiture of the one-fourth paid down 
if the other payments were not made. They gave in explana- 
tion of this course the fact that the gentlemen in town had come 
to a resolution not to go security for purchasers which they 
conceded was perhaps almost necessary, and that as a result 
it had happened that the purchasers had no acquaintances of 
whom they could ask such a favor. The Commissioners sug- 
gested that it was worth considering whether in future the terms 
ought not on this account to be varied. The President, writing 
to the Commissioners, expressed himself as encouraged by the 



History of the City of Washington. 125 

outcome of the sale, not so much by reason of the number of 
lots sold as because of the fact that the Commissioners had been 
able to keep up the prices. 

It was at this sale that the first serious indications of trou- 
ble between Major L 'Enfant and the Commissioners manifested 
themselves. The Major, it will be remembered, had from the 
first opposed the holding of a sale at this time; his letter to 
President Washington of August 19, being devoted largely to 
an argument in favor of a postponement. At the sale he con- 
ceived the idea that it would tend to induce speculation to 
permit purchasers to see the plan of the city, the draft of which 
he had completed while in Philadelphia. Accordingly, he refused 
the request of the Commissioners to exhibit it at the sale, and the 
Commissioners were compelled to indicate the locations of lots 
to purchasers as best they could. This circumstance the Com- 
missioners reported to the President in a letter of October 29, 
1791. The President's reply, addressed to Dr. Stuart, is an 
interesting document, by reason of the insight which it furnishes 
of his intimate knowledge of human nature, and of the skill and 
tact which made him so successful in handling men. It is 
important also as refuting the premise upon which Major 
L 'Enfant based his subsequent controversies with the Commis- 
sioners, to wit, that it was by virtue of the President's instruc- 
tions to him that he was independent of the authority of the 
Commissioners. The letter is of still further interest as indicat- 
ing that the President was now beginning to feel that the 
establishment of the city, while not completely out of danger, 
was yet in a much more secure state than it had been a few 
months before. The letter reads : 

"Philadelphia, November 20th, 1791. 
1 ' Dear Sir : I had heard before the receipt of your letter 
of the 29th of October — and with a degree of surprise and 
concern not easy to be expressed — that Major L 'Enfant had 
refused the map of the Federal City when it was requested 
by the Commissioners for the satisfaction of the purchasers 
at the sale. It is much to be regretted, however common 
the case is, that men who possess talents which fit them for 
peculiar purposes should almost invariably be under the 
influence of an untoward disposition, or are sottish, idle, 



126 History of the City of Washington. 

or possessed of some other disqualification by which they 
plague all those with whom they are concerned. But I did 
not expect to have met with such perverseness in Major 
L 'Enfant as his late conduct exhibited. 

"Since my first knowledge of this Gentleman's abilities 
in the line of his profession, I have viewed him not only 
as a scientific man but one who added considerable taste 
to professional knowledge and have thought that, for such 
employment as he is now engaged in, for prosecuting public 
works, and carrying them into effect, he was better qualified 
than any one who had come within my knowledge in this 
country, or indeed in any other, the probability of obtain- 
ing whom could be counted upon. 

"I had no doubt, at the same time, that this was the 
light in which he considered himself; and, of course, that 
he would be so tenacious of his plans as to conceive that 
they would be marred if they underwent any change or 
alteration ; but I did not suppose that he would have inter- 
fered further in the mode of selling the lots, than by giving 
an opinion with his reasons in support of it; and this 
perhaps it might be well always to hear, as the latter would 
stamp the propriety or show the futility of it. To advise 
this I am the more inclined, as I am persuaded that all 
those who have any agency in the business have the same 
objects in view, although they may differ in sentiment with 
respect to the mode of execution; because, from a source 
even less productive than L 'Enfant 's may flow ideas that 
are capable of improvement ; and because I have heard that 
Ellicott, who is also a man of uncommon talents in his way, 
and of a more placid temper, has intimated that no informa- 
tion had been required either from him, or L 'Enfant on 
some point or points (I do not now particularly recollect 
what) which they thought themselves competent to give. 

' ' I have no other motive for mentioning the latter circum- 
stance than merely to show that the feelings of such men 
are always alive, and where their assistance is essential 
that it is policy to humor them or to put on the appear- 
ance of doing it. 

"I have, however, since I have come to the knowledge 
of Major L 'Enfant 's refusal of the map, at the sale, given 
him to understand through a direct channel, though not' 
an official one as yet, further than what casually passed 
between us, previous to the sale, at Mount Vernon, that he 
must in future look to the Commissioners for directions; 



History of the City of Washington. 127 

that he having laid the foundation of this grand design, 
the Superstructure depended upon them ; that I was perfect- 
ly satisfied his plans and opinions would have due 
weight, if properly offered and explained ; that if the choice 
of Commissioners was again to be made I could not please 
myself better, or hit upon those who had the measure more 
at heart, or better disposed to accommodate the various 
interests and persons concerned ; and that it would give me 
great concern to see a goodly prospect clouded by imped- 
iments which might be thrown in the way, or injured by 
disagreements which would only serve to keep alive the 
hopes of those who are enemies to the Plan. But that you 
may not infer from hence he has expressed any dissatisfac- 
tion at the conduct of the Commissioners towards him, it 
is an act of justice I should declare that I never have heard, 
directly or indirectly, that he had expressed any. His 
pertinacity would, I am persuaded, be the same in all cases, 
and to all men. He conceives, or would have others believe, 
that the sale was promoted by withholding the general map, 
and thereby the means of comparison; but I have caused 
it to be signified to him, that I am of a different opinion; 
and that it is much easier to impede, than to force a sale, 
as none who knew what they were about would be induced 
to buy — (to borrow an old adage) 'a Pig in a Poke.' 

"There has been something very unaccountable in the 
conduct of the Engraver, yet I cannot be of the opinion 
the delays were occasioned by L 'Enfant. As soon, how- 
ever, as a correct draught of the City is prepared, the same, 
or some ^ther person shall be pressed to the execution. I 
say a correct draught, because I have understood that Mr. 
Ellicott has given it as his opinion it was lucky that Engrav- 
ings did not come out from the first plan inasmuch as 
they would not have been so perfectly exact as to have 
justified a sale by them. 

"It is of great importance, in my opinion, that the City 
should be laid out into squares and lots with all the dispatch 
that the nature and accuracy of the work will admit. And 
it is the opinion of intelligent and well informed men, now 
in this City, who are friends to this measure, that for this 
purpose, and to accommodate the two great interests of 
George Town and Carrollsburg, it would be advisable, 
rather than delay another public sale until the Whole can 
be completed to lay all the ground into squares which shall 
be West of the Avenue leading from George Town to the 



128 History of the City of Washington. 

President's House, thence by the Avenue to the House for 
Congress, thence by a proper Avenue (I have not the plan 
by me to say which) to the Eastern Branch, comprehend- 
ing the range of Squares next to and bounding on the said 
Avenues on the East side; and to appoint as early a day, 
for the sale as a moral eertainty of their completion will 
warrant. 

"When I speak of the importance of dispatch, it does 
not proceed from any doubt I harbour, that the enemies 
to the measure can shake the establishment of it; for it is 
with pleasure I add as my opinion that the roots of the 
permanent seat are penetrating deep, and spreading far 
and wide. The Eastern States are not only getting more 
and more reconciled to the measure, but are beginning to 
view it in a more advantageous light as it respects their 
policy and interests; and some members from that quarter 
who were its bitterest foes while the question was pend- 
ing in Congress, have now declared in unequivocal terms 
to various people and at various times, that if attempts 
should be made to repeal the Law they would give it every 
opposition in their power. These sentiments of the Eastern 
people being pretty well known, will, I am persuaded, arrest 
the design, if a repeal had been contemplated; but it will 
not prevent those who are irreconcilable, from aiming all 
the side blows, when in their power at it; and the rumor 
which was spread at the Sale, that Congress never would 
reside there, is one of the expedients that will be exerted 
in all its force, with a view to discourage the Sales of the 
Lots, and the buildings thereon, that the accommodations 
may be unfit for the Government when the period shall 
arrive that the removal is to take place. 

"When I see Major L 'Enfant, who it is said will shortly 
be here, I shall endeavor to bring him to some explanation 
of the terms on which he will serve the public and will also 
impress upon him the necessity of dispatch, that as early 
a Sale as circumstances will admit may ensue. 

"When I began this letter, and until I had got to the 
present stage of it, it was intended as an answer to yours 
of the 29th of October ; but on reperusal of that of the 21st 
of the said month from the Commissioners, I find it will 
serve as an answer to both; and, as it is of an enormous 
length, and my head and hands during the Session of Con- 
gress are fully employed, I pray you at the first meeting 



History of the City of Washington. 129 

of the Commissioners to lay these sentiments before them 
for their private information. 

"I forward the enclosed, as I did a former communica- 
tion from the same person, that the Commissioners may be 
apprised of the circumstances attending the land which is 
the subject of the letter. No acknowledgment of this, or- 
the former, has been made by me. 

"With very great esteem and regard I am, Dear Sir, 
Your most obt. and Affecte, Humble Servant, 

G. Washington." 
Close upon the controversy which arose over the refusal of 
Major L 'Enfant to permit the inspection of his plan at the 
October sale of lots, came a new and more serious one which 
arose over the demolition by Major L 'Enfant of the house of 
Daniel Carroll of Duddington. So serious was this latter con- 
troversy that, notwithstanding peace was eventually re-estab- 
lished, relations were strained to such a degree that only one 
further incident of a similar character was required to create 
a situation which made it necessary for the President to decide 
whether he should dispense with the services of the Major or 
with those of the Commissioners. Much has been written and 
told of these quarrels and of their outcome, and an impression 
more or less general has prevailed that the Major was harshly 
treated. This must necessarily be a matter of individual opin- 
ion. The interest which attaches to the circumstances leading 
up to the severance of Major L 'Enfant 's connection with the 
city, however, justifies a full statement of the entire affair. 

With reference to the circumstances attending the demoli- 
tion of Mr. Carroll's house much testimony has been furnished 
by the various participants in the episode. In trying to effect 
a settlement with Mr. Carroll, President Washington found it 
necessary to obtain the opinion of his Attorney General, Edmund 
Randolph, and to this end called upon the Commissioners for 
a full statement of the facts. The statement, as it appears 
copied in the Commissioners' letter book is as follows: (blank 
spaces probably being due to the illegibility in the original). 
In reading it the difference of identity between Daniel Carroll, 
the Commissioner, and Daniel Carroll of Duddington, must be 
kept in mind to avoid confusion. 



130 History of the City of Washington. 

"Daniel Carroll's Case. In 1790, the cellar of his house 
was walled up and stood so the Winter — 30th of March, 
1791, he signed the agreement subjecting his property 
marked A. — 27th or 28th of June, 1791, he executed a deed 
in trust to carry the agreement into effect. The original 
is in the Office at Annapolis where it was lodged to be 
recorded, but the paper B is a copy of the trust part of 
that and the other deeds. (B). In the latter end of August 
a day or two before Major L 'Enfant set out for Philadel- 
phia the nothern part of the street was run and struck 

the house about feet. Major Ellicott (and several of 

his Assistants then present) told D. C. that the street was 
originally intended 110 feet wider but that Major L 'Enfant 
had said to save the building if that would do it, he would 
reduce the street to 100 feet. Major Ellicott and all the 
Assistants seem to have been impressed with, and given the 
idea that a — alteration conveniently could and would be 
made to leave the house clear. Fenwick's Dep. C — Mr. 
Carroll some time before. Daniel Carroll of Duddington, 
resumed his building fell in company with him near the 
Camp. The latter complained that he had been disappoint- 
ed in not having the location of his house ascertained agree- 
able to reported promises given him that he had his work- 
men under engagements in consequence thereof and could 
not delay any longer. Mr. Carroll being — both in private 
and public account went immediately to Camp in hopes of 
seeing Major L 'Enfant, but not finding him there request- 
ed Major Ellicott to communicate the above to him with 
his earnest wish and that all misunderstanding might be 
avoided by explanation or a conference. Previous to this 
Mr. Carroll from — conversations with Major Ellicott was 
under impressions that a very short time would suffice to 
ascertain the location of the house and — conversation with 
Major L 'Enfant he had taken up the same idea, but he said 
at the same time something of the plan, to be approved 
of by the President. Mr. Carroll afterwards hearing the 
line of the street had struck the house called on Major 
Ellicott — Major L 'Enfant having set off for Philadelphia 
and informed him that he intended to write to the Presi- 
dent, that if an alteration could not be made with conven- 
ience and propriety Daniel Carroll of Duddington, might 
have notice and desist. On which Major Ellicott answered 
that an alteration might be made without the least injury 
to the plan and that he would be answerable that Daniel 



History of the City of Washington. 131 

Carroll of Duddington, would be safe. Mr. Carroll confid- 
ing in this did not trouble the President on the subject. 
This conversation has been acknowledged by Major Ellicott 
in the presence of Doctor Stewart and Mr. Gantt. Doctor 
Stewart is under the fullest impression from various con- 
versations he had with Major Ellicott on the subject of 
Daniel Carroll of Duddington house and more especially 
the particular one in Mr. Gantt 's Office when Major Ellicott 
was called upon expressly to give information on the sub- 
ject: that he gave it as his decided opinion that when the 
work was concerted Daniel Carroll of Duddington house 
would not be effected by the street. As a proof of this he 
frequently repeated that the plan at that time was mere 
fancy work, and would be very different when completed, 
that therefore, it was idle to be alarmed at what was then 
doing. On Friday the 13th of November, Doctor Stewart 
and Mr. Carroll met as Commissioners and agreed to meet 
again the Friday following. After the adjournment Major 
L 'Enfant meeting with Dr. Stewart told him that he had 
wrote to Daniel Carroll of Duddington, informing him that 
his house must come down. Doctor Stewart told him that 
he hoped he wrote in an accommodating manner, the Major 
said he had and feeling in his pockets said he was sorry 
he had not the letter with him. Dr. Stewart told the Major 
the Commissioners were to meet the following Friday and 
that if Mr. Carroll did not choose to pull his house down, 
to lay the letters before the commissioners. 

"The Tuesday following the demolition began, whilst it 
was in progress Daniel Carroll of Duddington having 
obtained an injunction showed it to Mr. Roberdeau and 
Mr. Orme, who were at the spot overseeing the work and 
read it, as alleged. See D. C. letter of the 7th of Jan. — 
D. Major L 'Enfant at the time of showing the injunction 
was in Virginia. Friday, the 25th, Dr. Stewart and Mr. 
Carroll met as Commissioners, see their letters to Major 
L 'Enfant. — E. and Mr. Roberdeau and Benjamin Ellicott. 
. — H. See also Major L 'Enfant 's letter of the 6th of Dec. 
to the Commissioners. G. which shows that after his re- 
turn from Virginia and his recit of the Commissioners' 
letter to him he resumed and completed the demolition 
which had been suspended in his absence. Daniel Carroll 
of Duddington, has laid before the Commissioners Major 
L'Enfant's letter of the 13th of November, 1791.— G. his 
letter 21st of November. — H. and Daniel Carroll of Dudd- 



132 History of the City of Washington. 

ington account. — I. The paper K. is a statement of what 
Major L 'Enfant refers to, as to Mr. Carroll's not acting. 
"Respecting Major L 'Enfant 's letter about Daniel Car- 
roll. Something being said in Major L 'Enfant 's letter 

to the Commissioners of — respecting one of them. 

Mr. D. Carroll, he deems it proper to acknowledge, he said 
in the presence of Major L 'Enfant, that if there was occa- 
sion he would appear as an evidence not as a Commissioner 
on this subject, and further, to remark that such was his 
intention with the permission of the other Commissioners 
on such an event. That there was not a Board on this 
occasion without him, that circumstance made it appear 
to him proper to act, that Major L 'Enfant did not men- 
tion this to Dr. Stewart on the conversation between them 
which has been mentioned, Dr. Stewart adds for this, that 
knowing Daniel Carroll's intention on this subject, he had 
in conversation with Major L 'Enfant informed him that if 
an occasion should arise Mr. Johnson and himself would be 
ready to give their determination." 

The first information of Major L 'Enfant 's action to reach 
the President, was conveyed by Mr. Carroll of Duddington, 
who laid the entire matter before him in a letter of November 
21st. The President, with his characteristic loyalty to the 
Commissioners, stated in his reply that he would rather Mr. 
Carroll had made his appeal to the Commissioners, but feeling 
that the exigencies of the occasion made it highly important 
to bring about a speedy settlement of the affair before it should 
give rise to rumors of controversy in connection with the federal 
city, he took the matter up in person and proposed two alter- 
natives for Mr. Carroll's choice; first, to have the Commission- 
ers complete the demolition of the building and rebuild it, the 
following spring, in line with the street, to the height it had 
attained; second, to let Mr. Carroll rebuild it at his own expense 
and occupy it six years, at which time it should be removed; 
allowance to be made only for the value of the walls at the 
time they were torn down. 

In the meantime the Commissioners wrote to the President 
on November 25th, the following account of the affair up to 
that time : 

"Sir: We are sorry to be under the disagreeable neces- 



History of the City of Washington. 133 

sity of mentioning to you an Occurrence which must wound 
your feelings. On our meting here to-day, we were to our 
great astonishment informed that, Maj'r L 'Enfant, without 
any authority from us, and without even having submitted 
the matter to our consideration, had proceeded to demolish, 
Mr. Carroll's house, Mr. Carroll who had received some let- 
ters, from the Maj 'r on the subject, fearing the consequence 
obtained an injunction from the Chancellor, for him to 
desist: with a summons to Maj'r L 'Enfant to attend the 
Court of Chancery in December, to receive his decision on 
the subject, but before his return the house was in part 
demolished. Tho' this circumstance is sufficiently unfor- 
tunate of itself it is particularly so with respect to the time 
at which it has happened. We had just sent up a memorial 
to the Assembly, on several subjects which we had deemed 
of importance to the Federal City.* We therefore fear it 
may produce unfavorable impressions in the members 
respecting the several matters prayed for, Tho' we have 
taken every step in our power to prevent it. As soon as 
we met we issued directions to Maj'r L 'Enfant and the 
persons acting under him in his absence, to desist till he 
received our instructions which might have obtained, what 
was proper in the Case, without any disagreeable conse- 
quences. As he cannot pretend to have Acted from any 
authority from us, we have been much hurt at insinuations, 
that he acted by authority from you. Being fully con- 
vinced that these were unfounded, we have not hesitated 
to declare that they were so. The Maj'r is at Dumfries, 
so that we have had no opportunity, of communicating, 
with him on the subject or learning his reasons and justifi- 
cations, anticipating your feelings on this subject, and fully 
apprised of the Maj'rs fitness for the work he is employed 
in, we cannot forbear expressing a hope that the affair 
may be still so adjusted that we may not lose his services. ' ' 
On receipt of this letter the President wrote to Major 
L 'Enfant, who had advised him of the action he had taken: 

"Philadelphia, Dec. 1, 1791. 
' ' Sir : I have received with sincere concern the informa- 
tion from yourself as well as others, that you have proceed- 
ed to demolish the house of Mr. Carroll of Duddington, 
against his consent, and without authority from the Com- 
missioners or any other person. In this you have laid your- 

*Urging the passage of the ratification hill — see post. 



134 History of the City of Washington. 

self open to the laws, and in a country where they will 
have their course. To their animadversion will belong the 
present case. In future I must strictly enjoin you to touch 
no man's property, without his consent, or the previous 
order of the Commissioners. I wished you to be employed 
in the arrangements of the federal city. I still wish it: 
but only on condition that you can conduct yourself in 
subordination to the authority of the Commissioners, to 
the laws of the land, and to the rights of its Citizens. 

"Your precipitate conduct will, it is to be apprehended, 
give serious alarm and product disagreeable consequences. 
Having the beauty and regularity of your plan only in 
view, you pursue it as if every person, and thing, was 
obliged to yield to it; whereas the Commissioners have 
many circumstances to attend to, some of which, perhaps, 
may be unknown to you; which evinces in strong point 
of view the propriety, the necessity, and even the safety, 
of your acting by their directions. 

"I have said, and I repeat it to you again, that it is my 
firm belief that the Gentlemen in Office have favorable dis- 
positions toward you, and in all things reasonable and 
proper will receive and give full weight to your opinions 
and ascribing to your zeal the mistakes that have happened 
I pursuade myself under this explanation of matters, that 
nothing in future will intervene to obstruct the harmony 
which ought to prevail in so interesting a work." 
Major L 'Enfant 's position is set forth in a letter which 
he wrote the Commissioners on December 6, after the destruc- 
tion of the house had been completed. In the course of this 
letter he says : 

"The peculiar circumstance attending the undertaking 
of Mr. Carroll of Duddington, together with his manifest- 
ed disposition to contravene his engagement and oppose the 
progress of operating being sufficiently known you could 
not but be satisfied that I acted with propriety in proceed- 
ing as I have done. Had that house been one of those 
improvements the removal of which in complyance with 
the compact between the individuals and the public would 
have required a previous estimate of its value, I would 
have doubtless referred the circumstance to the consider- 
ation of your board and would have suspended the oper- 
ation until matter had been adjusted between you and the 
individual concerned, but this not being necessary in the 



History of the City of Washington. 135 

case of Mr. Carroll of Duddington, a different mode of 
process was expedient and proper and the mode I pursued 
it must be allowed has been more delicate than was his 
right to expect — having offered him a fair opportunity to 
oppose at least contest an immediate operation. 

"The measure was necessary and expedient to be pro- 
ceeded to with allacrity it was proper — I proceeded to it 
of right as well as I do in directing trees to be cut down 
or rock to be removed where obstructive to the operations 
or impediments in the streets, and if the way of process 
is made or any individual injured it is to me and not to 
the people employed to whom opposition is to be made 
and lead in my steps with due regard to the public as well 
as to the individuals rights. Complaints from any of them 
when founded on raison have and will always meet me 
ready to redress and when ever the matter will be of a 
nature as to require your interference you will always find 
me disposed to respect the hotority vested in you by law. 

"In this instance the magnitude of the object to remove 
only constituted its importance — the novelty of the case 
has I conceive rised your apprehension and I account how 
one of the gentlemen of your board close connection with 
Mr. Carroll of Duddington, most have interested you to 
the event and lead you to conceive the undertaking delicate 
and of consequence for you to determine upon. 

# * # * 

"The removing of the building Mr. Carroll of Dudding- 
ton, had erected in contrariety to the plan was doing justice 
to them all and it has been effected without a violation of 
the right of property a difference and a wide one too being 
to be made in this case from that of touching a man's 
property without his consent. This exposal of the consid- 
erations and reasons which was and ever will made the rue 
of my conduct being wholly to convince you I have acted 
consistently I hope from this explanation of the matter 
that nothing in future will intervene to disturb the har- 
mony and good understanding which it is desirable may 
prevail amongst all concerned in so interesting a work." 
Mr. Carroll, having considered the President's alternative 
propositions, accepted the one providing for the reconstruction 
of his house by the Commissioners ; but when this became known 



136 History of the City of Washington. 

to the other proprietors, they addressed a vigorous protest to 
the Commissioners who referred it to the President, by whom 
it was in turn referred, together with the statement of the 
case previously quoted and other pertinent documents, to the 
Attorney General. 

The result of the Attorney General's consideration of the 
case was an agreement to pay Mr. Carroll the value of the 
materials in his house at the time of its destruction. The matter 
was later (June 4, 1792) settled by the payment of £1679, 12 
sh, 3 d. 

On Christmas (1791) Major L 'Enfant started for Philadel- 
phia to prepare the plan of the city for engraving. He left in 
charge of operations two young men, Isaac Roberdeau and 
Balentine Baraof, to whom he gave instructions as to the work 
to be attended to in his absence. Under his instructions Mr. 
Roberdeau took twenty-five of the men engaged in the city work 
to the stone quarry at Aquia Creek. The Commissioner, think- 
ing it more important that the work of digging up the clay for 
bricks should be pushed during the Winter season, requested 
Mr. Roberdeau to attend their meeting to receive their instruc- 
tions. Instead of complying with their request Mr. Roberdeau 
proceeded to Aquia Creek. The Commissioners at the same 
time directed Mr. Baraof to discontinue the work in the city 
in which he was engaged and to discharge the hands, settle 
their accounts, take care of the tools, and sell a horse purchased 
at the public expense. Instead of obeying he went to Virginia 
to consult Mr. Roberdeau and on returning ordered a supply 
of bread for the men preparatory to renewing operations. In 
consequence of this proceeding the Commissioners gave Mr. 
Baraof peremptory orders to turn over the public property 
in his charge to Capt. Elisha Williams and warned him that if 
he presumed to interfere in digging the soil or doing any act 
on the land as of his own or under any kind of public author- 
ity they would order actions of trespass against him. The 
patience of the Commissioners was now being rapidly exhausted 
as the following recital of events sent by them to the President 
under date of January 7th, 1792, will show. 



History of the City of Washington. 137 

"From what we collect from the Commissary of provis- 
ions there are now retained in service about laborers 

and their overseers in the City and that Major L 'Enfant 
has ordered 25 of them to be withdrawn from there to be 
employed in the Stone Quarry under the direction of Mr. 
Roberdeau, who has left George Town on that business 
though previously told by two of the Commissioners sepa- 
rately and by the third on his way that his presence was 
desired at the meeting and we have reason to believe that 
he proceeded, to avoid orders from us, independent of this 
mortifying treatment we think it advisable, from the nature 
of the season, for the present at least, to put every thing 
we can on piece work and to discharge the hands engaged 
on time wages and provisions, and employed in digging. 
For though pains were taken on our part to get brick clay 
turned up this Fall, we have no knowledge or reason to 
believe, that a spade of clay has been turned up for that 
purpose, but labor diverted to other objects which may 
correspond with Major L 'Enfant 's designs respecting the 
Capital and Palace, but we do not conceive that there is 
certainly enough of the adoption of unprepared plans to 
warrant the cost of digging long, deep, wide ditches in 
the midst of the Winter, which if necessary at all might 
be done much cheaper at some other season. These impres- 
sions though we wish to avoid a step in Major L 'Enfant 's 
absence, which he may possibly think wanting in delicacy, 
have occasioned us to discharge the hands. The produce 
of our funds and the public expense must be brought into 
view and comparison by us : for supposing as we do, that 
we are not answerable in our private characters for debts 
incurred within the line of our Office, our honor is con- 
cerned, that the engagements entered into with our approba- 
tion should be faithfully complied with nor can we suffer 
ourselves to be led from these objects : it will hence be 
necessary that we know and approve the thing to be done 
and the means and calculations to effect it. "We flatter 
ourselves we need not declare to you that we shall be glad 
to receive advice, as such at all times, for we are conscious 
that we need that assistance, and that we ever sincerely 
wish an unreserved intercourse, and are yet disposed to 
meet in measures to that end. But without remaining over 
disagreeable occurrences Major L 'Enfant and Major Elli- 
cott both must if we do business with them consult us in 
the future. We exceedingly regret the necessity we feel 



138 History of the City of. Washington. 

ourselves under in interrupting the too few moments you 
have of leisure and shall truly lament if it so happens the 
loss of Major L 'Enfant 's taste and professional abilities, 
of which we with yourselves have a high opinion : but we 
owe something to ourselves and to others which cannot be 
given up." 

After issuing orders to Mr. Roberdeau on January 10th, to 
turn the public property over to Capt. Elisha Williams, the 
Commissioners, thinking everything settled for the time, dis- 
persed to their homes. The day following their departure Mr. 
Roberdeau, collected hands and resumed the digging operations. 
The Commissioners were summoned by express and making 
their way to where Mr. Roberdeau was carrying on the work, 
were informed that he was determined to execute Major 
L 'Enfant 's orders in opposition to theirs. On the arrival of 
mail from Philadelphia he announced that by reason of a com- 
munication from Major L 'Enfant he held it necessary for his 
justification to submit to an arrest, which the Commissioners 
proceeded to cause. He informed the Commissioners that Major 
L 'Enfant had directed him to desire the Commissioners not to 
have any clay turned up for bricks at the President's House. 
On receipt of information of these proceedings the Pres- 
ident both in person and through others endeavored to bring 
the Major, who was then at Philadelphia, to adopt his views 
as to the Major's functions. 

On February 22, 1792, Mr. Jefferson at the President's 
instance tactfully informed Major L 'Enfant that his continua- 
tion in the work would be desirable to the President, but that 
the law required it should be in subordination to the Commis- 
sioners who would from time to time receive his propositions 
and submit them to the President to be approved or disap- 
proved, and that when they should be returned with the Pres- 
ident's approval, the Commissioners would place in the Major's 
hands the execution of such parts as should be arranged with 
him. 

This statement of his position was not satisfactory to the 
Major and after a series of interviews and communications back 
and forth Major L 'Enfant and the President came to a dead- 



History of the City of Washington. 139 

lock; the Major refusing without qualification to finish the work 
in a capacity subordinate to that of the Commissioners. Regret- 
fully the President was compelled to face the necessity of 
dispensing with the Major's services, his decision being conveyed 
in the following letter to the Major from Mr. Jefferson : 

"Philadelphia, Feb. 27, 1792. 
' ' Sir : From your letter received yesterday in answer 
to my last, and your declaration in conference with Mr. 
Lear, it is understood that you absolutely decline acting 
under the authority of the present Commissioners. If this 
understanding of your meaning be right, I am instructed 
by the President to notify you that notwithstanding the 
desire he has entertained to preserve your agency in the 
business, the condition on which it is to be done is inadmis- 
sible, and your services must be at an end. 

Your most obedient humble servant, 
Major L 'Enfant. Thomas Jefferson." 

Writing the Commissioners under date of March 6, 1792, 
the President recites the efforts made by him to reach a friend- 
ly understanding with Major L 'Enfant. The pertinent por- 
tions of his letter follow: 

"Matters are at length brought to a close with Major 
L 'Enfant. As I had a strong desire to retain his services 
in this business, provided it could have been done upon a 
proper footing, I gave him every opportunity of coming 
forward and stating the mode in which he would wish to 
be employed, always, however, assuring him that he must 
be under the control of the Commissioners. But after 
keeping open the communication with him as long as any 
reasonable means could be found of doing it, he chose to 
close it by declaring that he could only act in a certain 
way, — which way was inadmissible. His services, there- 
fore, must be no longer calculated upon. Altho' his talents 
in designing, and the skill which he is said to possess in 
the execution of this kind of business may occasion the loss 
of his services to be regretted ; yet I doubt, upon the whole, 
whether it will be found in the end that his dereliction 
will be of real disservice to the undertaking; for so unac- 
commodating is his disposition that he would never suffer 
any interference in his plans, much less would he have 
been contented under the direction of the Commissioners. 
I am convinced, Gentlemen, that in your transactions with 



140 History of the City of Washington. 

Major L 'Enfant you must have suffered much from his 
temper; — and if my approbation of yr. conduct in this 
business can afford you pleasure, you may be assured you 
have it. Even if I had no corroboration of the fact, I 
should be persuaded, from what I have known of his dis- 
position on the recent occasion, that there would scarcely 
be a possibility of acting harmoniously in concert with him. 
"As Mr. Jefferson has, in his letter, mentioned the 
particular objects to which your attention will probably 
be turned — I shall only observe here that I am impressed 
in the strongest manner, with the necessity there is of 
carrying on this business with as much vigor as the nature 
of the thing will admit. It has been observed by intelligent 
and well informed men, (not however of the class most 
friendly to the measure) that the whole success of the fed- 
eral City depends upon the exertions which may be made 
in the ensuing season towards completing the object; for 
such is now the state of the public mind on this subject 
that it appears as if it were in an equilibrium, and will 
preponderate either for or against the measure as the 
progress of the thing may be. And there are not wanting 
those who, being interested in arresting the business, will 
leave no means unessayed to injure it. By the proposition 
for a loan which Mr. Jefferson transmits to you, you will 
see what prospect you have of funds in addition." 

In all of his controversies with the Commissioners, Major 
L 'Enfant had enjoyed the support and sympathy of most of 
the proprietors, to which cause, it is very easy to believe, may 
probably be ascribed, in part at least, the obstinancy which he 
displayed. On hearing of the Major's dismissal a number of 
the proprietors wrote to Mr. George Walker, who was in com- 
munication with Mr. Jefferson, the following letter for Mr. 
Jefferson's attention: 

"Georgetown, March 9, 1792. 

' ' Sir : We are obliged by your communication of the 
letter from the Secretary of State. 

"We cannot but lament extremely that the misunder- 
standing between the Commissioners and Major L 'Enfant, 
has ended in the dismission of the latter — for, having from 
our own knowledge of his Conduct, formed the highest 
opinion of his Talents, his unwearied zeal, his firmness, 



History of the City of Washington. 141 

(though sometimes perhaps improperly exterted, in general 
highly useful), his impartiality to this or to that end of 
the City; or to the views of those proprietors, with whom 

he has been in Friendship or otherwise and from his 

total disregard for all pecuniary considerations, we greatly 
doubt whether a successor can be found in this country, or 
indeed in any country, qualified to be so eminently useful 
to the object in which we are all so Interested, — and cer- 
tainly none can be found possessing in a higher degree, 
the public confidence, a circumstance which we cannot help 
thinking of very great importance in the business where 
as much depends on public opinion. Thus thinking, we 
anxiously hope that some mode will yet be devised by the 
friends of this place at Philadelphia, to secure to the City, 
the benefit of Major L 'Enfant 's future services. 

"The Commissioners we presume, would do everything 
they could do, consistently with their duty, to accommodate 
to his views, and however he may have been misled by the 
warmth of his Temper, we are persuaded from his well 
known attachment to the object, which has employed so 
much of his time and study, that he will on cooler reflexion 
and on knowing the highest confidence placed in him by 
the Bulk of the proprietors, stand less on Punctilio than 
he has hitherto done ; especially if he could have assurances, 
that in things really in his province (and in which from 
his Scientific knowledge and approved Taste, He would 
be most competent to Decide) he would be left without 
controul. 

"As you are in correspondence with the Secretary of 
State, and as it is but justice to Major L 'Enfant that the 
Opinion the proprietors entertain of his merit, from their 
own observation, should be known to those to whom he 
owed his appointment, we request you will enclose this 
letter with your own. We are, Sir, 

Your most obed servts, 
Robert Peters, Ben Stoddert, 

John Davidson, Uriah Forrest, 

Sam Davidson, ¥111. Prout, 

Jas. M. Lingan, Overton Carr, 

Abraham Young, David Burnes, 

Wm. King, Eliphaz Douglas." 

The President's determination to dismiss Major L 'Enfant 
was not reached without serious consideration of the possible 



142 History of the City of Washington. 

consequences to the city, not only by reason of the loss of the 
Major's services, but through the loss of public confidence which 
was likely to result therefrom, and the consequent strength- 
ening of the claims of Philadelphia for the permanent retention 
of the Seat of Government at that place. 

According to a letter which he wrote to Dr. Stuart shortly 
after the dismissal of Major L 'Enfant, the President was strong- 
ly apprehensive that either the Major or his friends would come 
out with a public announcement, to quote the President, 
"that he found matters were likely to be conducted upon so 
pimping a scale that he would not hazard his character or 
reputation on the event under the controul he was to be placed ; ' ' 
and that it would require the most vigorous exertions on the 
part of the Commissioners looking to the prosecution of the 
work along the lines of Major L 'Enfant 's plan, to prevent the 
chrystallization of public sentiment in favor of an abandon- 
ment of the project. 

The question of the compensation to be offered Major 
L 'Enfant for his services was determined by President Wash- 
ington after consultation with others in his confidence at Phila- 
delphia. In his letter to Doctor Stuart, just referred to, he 
says "the plan of the city having met universal approval (so 
far as my information goes) and Major L 'Enfant having 
become a very discontented man, it was thought that less than 
from 2,500 to 3,000 dollars, would not be proper to offer him 
for his services." "Instead of this," he suggests, "suppose 
five hundred guineas, and a Lot in a good part of the City were 
to be substituted? I think it would be more pleasing, and less 
expensive." Previous to his discharge the Major had received 
six hundred dollars and his expenses, but had persistently 
refused, though several times requested by the Commissioners, 
to name the compensation he would expect. Acting upon the 
President's suggestion, the Commissioners wrote to the Major 
advising him that they had sent an order in his favor for five 
hundred guineas and would add to it a lot in the city. 

Major L 'Enfant wrote briefly in reply that without inquir- 
ing into the principles upon which they based their offer he 



History of the City of Washington. 143 

should only testify his surprise thereupon, and decline to accept 
it. 

What amount he regarded as requisite to adequately com- 
pensate him for his services he does not appear at the time to 
have indicated either to the Commissioners or to the President. 
In 1800 he presented a claim to the then members of the commis- 
sion in which, without naming any specific sum, he enumerated 
the following items : 

"1st. Of a Salary of my Agency commensurate with the 
magnitude and importance of the Object and of the Affairs 
managed. 

"2ndly. Of payment for the delineation of the City Plan 
on an estimation expected such as the Sentiment of a work 
of genious alone can suggest and — differencing the pro- 
duction of the artist from that of the mere artisan or 
virtuoso, making also the price comport with the benefit 
in the end to result to the Nation. 

"3rdly. Of the proceed from the printing of the City 
Plan or an equivalent for being taken away the property 
thereof. 

"4th. Of the great additional perquisite necessarily to 
have devolved to me from the agency." 
By way of furnishing a basis for estimating what the 
additional perquisites would have come to, he cites the relin- 
quishment of other engagements which would have yielded him 
a clear gain of .$50,000. His prospective profits in sales of 
maps he calculated upon a probable sale of from fifteen to 
twenty thousand maps at from two or three dollars each. 

His claim being rejected by the Commissioners, was pre- 
sented to Congress in much the same form. As stated in a 
committee report of that body, returned in 1802, the items 
were estimated to be : 

For labor for one year $8,000; anticipated profits from 
sales of maps, $37,500 ; perquisites, $50,000 ; total, $95,000. 

In 1804, a law was passed authorizing the Superintendent 
of the City, who was the successor to the Commissioners, to 
make a settlement with L 'Enfant, but the money was levied 
upon by a creditor. In 1810, Congress in response to a further 
memorial from L 'Enfant, appropriated $666 with interest from 



144 History of the City of Washington. 

March 1, 1792, the total coming to $1,394.20. This was the 
last financial reward the designer of the city ever received 
for his services.* 

After leaving the service of the city Major L 'Enfant accept- 
ed various employments, but the extravagant and visionary 
trend which had enabled him in his mind's eye to picture in 
the forests and swamps which lay before him the streets, 
avenues, parks and public buildings of the future City of 
Washington, proved in the more practical affairs with which 
he became connected, to be a handicap, which, coupled with 
the overbearing temper which remained with him, prevented 
him from attaining any considerable amount of private business 
or degree of professional success. Obtaining employment with 
a Jersey manufacturing concern, he was shortly dismissed "for 
mistakes and a Quixotic invention- "t The faith of the public 
in his abilities accordingly fell. Not knowing of his discharge, 
Robert Morris had employed him to design and superintend 
the construction of a house which he contemplated building in 
Philadelphia — giving him carte blanche as to his expenses. 
L 'Enfant 's plan of this building was upon a most expensive 
scale and was changed so frequently and at such increase of 
cost as to drive the owner to desperation. 

Oberholtzer, in his life of Morris, says "the Financier 
frequently denied, as his misfortunes accumulated and the folly 
of his undertaking became very manifest, that he had given 
L 'Enfant authority to lay the plans on so extravagant a scale." 
At all events, after four years of building up and tearing 
down, on August 15, 1796, Mr. Morris wrote L 'Enfant: 

"It is with astonishment I see the work of last fall now 
pulling down in order to put more marble on my house, 
on which there is already vastly too much. The difficulty 
and cost of getting money is vastly greater than you can 
conceive, and if you persist in exposing yourself to censure 
and me to ridicule by alterations and additions, you will 
force me to abandon all expectations of getting into the 
house and to stop the work which I am unwilling to do, 

*L'Enfant's Personal Affairs, by W. B. Bryan. Vol. 2, Records 
Col. Hist. Soc. 

fBlodget to the Commissioners. 



History of the City of Washington. 145 

if it can be avoided, and which can only be prevented by 

economy and dispatch." 

Mr. Morris, continues the same authority, "rolled sheet 
iron at his works at Morrisville to take the place of slate upon 
the roof in order that the rain might not beat in, but in May, 
1797, although upon his own estimate he had expended ten 
times as much as he was told the house would cost, the roof 
covered only a portion of the building and not a single floor 
was laid, nor a single wall plastered. In this house Morris 
never lived." 

Major L 'Enfant was later tendered a position as an 
instructor at West Point but declined it, apparently conceiv- 
ing that an acceptance would prejudice his claim for compen- 
sation as the designer of the city. His after life was embittered 
by what he considered the lack of public appreciation of his 
work. In his later years he was invited by Mr. William Dudley 
Digges to make his home with the latter at his estate "Green 
Hill," in Prince George's County, Maryland, and it was there 
his death occurred on June 14, 1825, at the age of seventy years. 

In 1908, Congress appropriated one thousand dollars "to 
remove and render accessible to the public the grave of Major 
Pierre Charles L 'Enfant. " On April 22, 1909, the remains were 
taken from the grave and on April 28 were taken under military 
escort to the rotunda of the Capitol where for three hours they 
lay in state, being then borne upon a caisson at the head of a 
procession nearly a mile in length to the National Cemetery at 
Arlington. Before the firing of the three volleys over the new 
grave and sounding of "taps" by the bugler, Monsignor William 
T. Russell, Pastor of Saint Patrick's Church, performed the rites 
of the church, and concluded with an eloquent and fitting tribute 
to the service which Major L 'Enfant had rendered the country 
of his adoption.* 

Much has been said about the lack of public recognition of 
L 'Enfant 's work, and it is impossible to contemplate the tragedy 
of his after life without a sense of regret. Yet, upon a dispas- 
sionate view of the case, the conclusion can hardly be resisted 

♦The Reinterment of Major L'Enfant, by Dr. Charles Dudley 
Morgan, Vol. 13, Records Col. Hist. Soc. 



146 History of the City of Washington. 

that he was himself chiefly responsible for the troubles which 
overtook him. 

So far as the question of the adequacy or inadequacy of his 
compensation is concerned, those who lived at the time were in 
a position to estimate more accurately the propriety of the sum 
offered him than it is possible to do today. President Washing- 
ton thought the sum adequate; indeed he shows by his letter 
to Dr. Stuart that in fixing on that amount he had been influ- 
enced by a desire to avoid arousing a sentiment against the new 
city by any evidence of lack of appreciation of L 'Enfant 's work. 
The tone of his correspondence throughout, as well as that of 
the Commissioners, shows an entire absence of any personal feel- 
ing on the part of any of them against the Major ; and President 
Washington, in all his dealings, was the last of all men to allow 
such consideration to influence him. A moment's reflection, too, 
must lead to the conviction that the items of anticipated profit 
which Major L 'Enfant later enumerated in his claim were essen- 
tially visionary and in all probability would not have been, even 
approximately, realized. As to the merits of his quarrel with 
the Commissioners, the record fails to show any fair reason why 
he could not have continued his work of supervising the work 
of laying out the city, in the most complete harmony with the 
Commissioners but for the fact of his inability to comprehend 
that both under the law and as a matter of practical necessity 
it was requisite that the President be represented by some such 
administrative body, and that in the nature of the case its author- 
ity in directing the work of establishing the city must be superior 
to his as its designer. The Commissioners throughout evinced 
toward the Major a highly conciliatory spirit and a desire, found- 
ed upon a genuine appreciation of his abilities, to reach a work- 
ing agreement with him which should be conducive to the best 
interests of the city. For his sake it is regrettable that the bring- 
ing about of such an agreement was impossible of accomplish- 
ment. So far as the interests of the public Avere concerned, it 
had little to lose. Major L 'Enfant had for all practical pur- 
poses fulfilled his mission when he finished the design which will 
arouse the wonder and admiration of men for all time to come. 



History of the City of Washington, 147 

It will be remembered that Major L 'Enfant at the time of 
his dismissal, was in Philadelphia, whither he had gone for the 
purpose of preparing the map of the city. According to his 
account, he had, before leaving Georgetown, requested Benjamin 
Ellicott to delineate on paper all the work which had been done 
in the city, which, being accurately measured and laid down on 
the ground, he intended to make the basis of a drawing from his 
original plan upon a reduced scale for engraving- Not having 
this with him on his arrival in Philadelphia and experiencing 
some difficulty in finding a good draughtsman and engraver, he 
met with some delay in the preparation of the map and finally 
requested Benjamin Ellicott to assist him, giving the latter for 
the purpose a sketch which had already been prepared. L 'Enfant 
superintended this work until told by Major Ellicott that the 
latter had been instructed by Mr. Jefferson to attend to that 
business and had engaged an engraver to do the work. L 'Enfant 
paid no further attention to the matter at the time, thinking it 
impossible for Ellicott to complete the work without reference 
to L 'Enfant 's large plan which the latter had in his possession ; 
expecting, however, to be called upon to review and correct the 
plan when completed. After some days he went to Ellicott 's 
home and found the draught nearly finished but, as he states, 
"most unmercifully spoiled and altered from the original plan 
to a degree indeed evidently intended to disgrace me and ridicule 
the very undertaking." 

L 'Enfant, desiring to correct the plan, sent to Major Ellicott 
for it, but the latter refused to deliver it up; upon which L 'En- 
fant, on February 17, 1792, wrote to Mr. Lear, the President's 
private secretary, reciting the facts as above stated and protest- 
ing against the publication of the plan as Mr. Ellicott had drawn 
it. 

Whether Major L 'Enfant 's version of the matter is cor- 
rect, or whether as would appear from President Washington's 
and Major Ellicott 's statements to the Commissioners, the trou- 
ble was the result of another instance of Major L 'Enfant 's 
captiousness, it is not easy to decide. President Washington, in 
his letter of March 6, 1792, wrote : 



148 History of the City of Washington. 

"It is impossible to say with any certainty when the plan 
of the City will be engraved. Upon Major L 'Enfant 's 
arrival here, in the latter part of December I pressed him 
in the most earnest manner to get the plan ready for engrav- 
ing as soon as possible. Finding there was no prospect of 
obtaining it through him (at least not in any definite time) 
the matter was put into Mr. Ellicott's hands to prepare 
about 3 weeks ago. He has prepared it, but the engravers 
who have undertaken to execute it, say it cannot certainly 
be done in less than two — perhaps not under 3 months. 
There shall, however, be every effort made to have the thing 
effected with all possible dispatch." 
Major Ellicott, writing on February 23, 1792, said: 

' ' On my arrival at this City, I found that no preparation 
was made for an engraving of the plan of the City of Wash- 
ington. Upon this representation being made to the Pres- 
ident and Secretary of State, I was directed to furnish one 
for an engraver; which with the aid of my Brother was 
completed last Monday, and handed to the President. In 
this business we met with difficulties of a very serious nature. 
Major L 'Enfant refused us the use of the Original! What 
his motives were, God knows. The plan which we have 
furnished, I believe will be found to answer the ground 
better than the large one in the Major's hands. I have 
engaged two good artists, (both Americans) to execute the 
engraving, and who will begin the work as soon as the 
President comes to a determination respecting some small 
alterations. ' ' 

The result of Major Ellicott's execution of the plan, what- 
ever the circumstances may have been, resulted in its being 
published to the world, apparently as his design. Major 
L 'Enfant 's plan contained in the upper left hand corner a title 
legend giving his name as the author. It also, as previously 
noted, contained the statement crediting Major Ellicott with the 
astronomical work incident to the execution of the plan on the 
ground. Major Ellicott, in his map, omitted Major L 'Enfant 's 
name as well as a large part of the explanatory matter, but left 
the reference to himself as it appeared on L 'Enfant 's plan, plac- 
ing it prominently at the lower right hand corner, embracing 
his name in enlarged letters, in such a manner as upon a casual 
glance to give the impression, without expressly setting forth 



History of the City of Washington. 149 

such a claim, that Major Ellicott was the author of the plan. 

Ellicott's draft, notwithstanding L 'Enfant 's charge that it 
unmercifully spoiled and altered the original, in fact adhered 
quite closely to the latter. The most easily noted alterations 
consist in the straightening of Massachusetts Avenue, which in 
L 'Enfant 's plan takes a sharp break to the southeast from the 
point where it crosses New Jersey Avenue, and in the elimina- 
tion of four or five short avenues which appear in L 'Enfant 's 
plan. It also omits the designation of any of L 'Enfant 's pub- 
lic reservations except those for the President's House and 
Capitol. These alterations, while they may have improved rather 
than injured the original, were not such as to justify Ellicott 
in seeking to obtain public recognition as the author of the design. 

It is evident from the fact that the names of the avenues 
are given upon Ellicott's map that they were determined upon 
during the time of its preparation in Philadelphia; for they do 
not appear on L 'Enfant 's plan, and Pennsylvania Avenue is 
mentioned by Major Ellicott, in a letter to the Commissioners 
written in December, shortly before he went to the latter place, 
as the diagonal leading from the President 's house to the Capitol. 

The work of engraving Ellicott's map was entrusted to two 
firms, Thackara and Vallance, of Philadelphia, and S. Hill, of 
Boston. Though both products were referred to generally as the 
"Engraved Plan," the former was more particularly designated 
as "The Philadelphia Plate," and the latter as "The Boston 
Plate." The Philadelphia Plate was about twice the size of 
the Boston Plate and was much preferred because of the fact 
that it gave the soundings of the Potomac River and Eastern 
Branch which were forwarded too late to be incorporated in the 
other. 

The Boston Plate was completed in time to be exhibited at 
the second public sale of lots on October 8, 1792, the Philadel- 
phia Plate not being received by the Commissioners until the 
13th of the following November. 

The difficulties of the Commissioners with Major L 'Enfant 
were but the prelude to a series of annoying and long drawn 
controversies with his successor, of a nature even more acrimon- 



150 History of the City of. Washington. 

ious and personal than the quarrels with the eccentric French- 
man. 

While the discussions between President Washington and 
Major L 'Enfant were going on and Major Ellicott was engaged 
in preparing the draft of the plan of the City, the latter, by his 
own statement appears to have been anticipating the possibility 
of his appointment as Major L 'Enfant 's successor. In his letter 
to the Commissioners of February 23, above quoted from, he 
says: 

"In several conferences which I have had with the Pres- 
ident, and Secretary of State, on the subject of the City 
of Washington, he wrote the Commissioners, I have con- 
stantly mentioned the necessity of system in the execution 
of the business : without which there can be neither economy, 
certainty, nor decision. — The Major has both a lively fancy 
and decision; but unfortunately no system; which renders 
the other qualifications much less valuable, and in some 
cases useless. I suspect the measures are now taking, which 
will either reduce the Major to the necessity of submitting 
to the legal arrangements, or deserting the City." 
On receiving notice of Major L 'Enfant 's dismissal the Com- 
missioners on March 14, 1792, wrote to Major Ellicott placing 
him in charge of the surveying department and offering to 
employ his brothers as his assistants. They notified him that 
they had already employed a Mr. McDermott as an assistant. 
The latter, whose real name was James R. Dermott, was an Irish- 
man whose reputation in Alexandria as a mathematician had 
come to the attention of Doctor Stuart who had mentioned his 
name to the other Commissioners with the result indicated in 
their letter to Major Ellicott. On the 3rd of August follow- 
ing, Mr. George Fenwick was appointed an assistant surveyor, 
and shortly after was detailed to the work of placing stones at 
the corners of squares as laid off in the City. 

During the summer and fall of 1792, Major Ellicott and 
his force, besides their work in laying out and dividing squares 
in the city, had been engaged in the survey of the boundary of 
the federal territory. This work being completed by the first of 
the new year, Major Ellicott submitted to the Commissioners 
the following report of his work, upon the receipt of which the 



History of the City of Washington. 151 

Commissioners by their proclamation issued on the same day, 
authenticated the boundary as laid out by Major Ellicott to be 
the boundary of the federal territory. Major Ellicott 's report, 
the wording of which in its essential points is closely followed 
in the Commissioner's proclamation, after reciting the survey- 
ing of the boundary according to the President's proclamations 
relating thereto, continued: 

"A space has been opened and cleared forty feet wide, 
that is twenty feet on eaeh side of the lines limiting the 
territory: and, in order to perpetuate the location of the 
Said Territory, I have set up squared mile-stones, marked 
with the number of miles progressively, from the beginning 
on Jones's point to the west corner, thence from the west 
corner to the north corner, thence from the north corner 
to the East corner; and from thence to the place of begin- 
ning on Jones 's point : except in a few cases where the miles 
terminate on declivities or in waters, in such cases the stones 
are placed on the nearest firm ground, and their true 
distances in miles and poles marked on them. On the sides 
of the stones facing the Territory, are inscribed the words 
'Jurisdiction of the United States.' On the opposite sides 
of those placed in the commonwealth of Virginia, is Inscribed 
'Virginia' and on those in the State of Maryland, is 
Inscribed 'Maryland,' and on the third and fourth sides, 
or faces are Inscribed the year in which the stone was set 
up and the present variations of the magnetic needle at that 
place. In addition to the foregoing work, I have com- 
pleated a Map of the four lines (with an half mile on each 
side) including the said District of territory, with a survey 
of the different waters. 

"Witness my hand this first day of January, 1793. 

Andw. Ellicott."* 

It was about the time of the making of this report that the 
first definite signs of the trouble between Major Ellicott and the 
Commissioners began to display themselves. 

*Boundary Monuments of the D. C, by Marcus Baker, Vol. 1, 
Rec. Col. Hist. Soc. 

Ramble Along Boundary Stones, by Fred E. Woodward, Vol. 10, 
Rec. Col. Hist. Soc. 

With Camera over the Old District Boundary Lines, by Fred E. 
Woodward, Vol. 11, Rec. Col. Hist. Soc. 



152 History of the City of Washington. 

Apparently complaints had been made to the Commissioners, 
by some of the proprietors, of slowness in the prosecution of the 
survey of the city; a circumstance for which Major Ellicott, 
engaged as he was in the survey of the boundary lines of the 
territory, was perhaps not to blame. In two letters of January 
4, 1793, replying to the Commissioners representations, he sets 
forth his explanation of the delay and at the same time evinces 
almost as much sensitiveness to criticism as his predecessor, 
saying : 

' ' In the execution of the Plan of the City of Washington, 
I have met with innumerable difficulties on account of its 
extreme complexity ; and from its extent, the labour becomes 
augmented, to such a degree, that it can only be judged of, 
by those intimately acquainted with such business. Those 
causes, and not want of exertions, may possibly have pro- 
duced an apparent delay, in the execution of the Plan. 

"If it should be your pleasure, you may rest assured that 
it will be mine, to quit the further execution of the Plan 
of the City of Washington by the first day of May next. 
You may probably find some person, more capable both to 
execute the work, and give satisfaction. ' ' 
The Commissioners having directed his attention to the com- 
plaints of some of the proprietors who were demanding surveys 
of their lands, he continued : 

"I shall not pretend to say, but that every proprietor of 
lands in the City of Washington, has an equal right to have 
his property prepared for sale; but as the work cannot be 
executed in an instant; some must be accommodated before 
others: and this accommodation must depend upon the 
system, proper to pursue, in executing the work. 

"From both experience, and reflection, I am now con- 
vinced, that in the very beginning of the business, it would 
have been better; to have proceeded regularly from some 
particular point, to the extremities of the City; than to 
have worked in detached pieces, which in executing the 
general plan, will all have to be gone over again: This is 
the case with part of Mr. Walker's property, and many 
others, and I know of no way that they can be particularly 
accommodated but at an extra public expense." 
In the latter part of January of the same year, 1793, a publi- 
cation appeared in one of the Baltimore papers criticizing Major 



History of the City of Washington. 153 

Ellieott for his alleged dilatoriness in pushing the survey of 
the city. Upon seeing this, Major Ellieott, on January 29, 
wrote to the Commissioners demanding an investigation of his 
conduct of the office and also requesting that Mr. Dermott be 
directed to deliver up to him all the papers in his possession 
relating to the Surveyor's office, in order that Major Ellieott 
might be enabled to complete a general return of the work 
executed, by the first of the following May. 

This request was communicated to Mr. Dermott, whose reply 
has an important bearing upon the charges which Major Ellieott 
soon after made against him. Referring to the request which 
had been communicated to him he said : 

"I have received a letter from the Commissioners yester- 
day desiring some papers which you wanted. They did not 
specify any therefore did not know what to send. If you 
had only hinted to me that you wanted any papers in my 
possession, either public or private ; they should have been 
delivered, as soon to your order as theirs. ' ' 
After explaining the state of his work and offering to put 
his notes in shape to be understood if desired, he concluded : 
"Any other direction you'll please to send here shall be com- 
plied with, as soon as I return, which will be in a few days" 
Major Ellieott made no reply to this letter nor any further 
demand upon Dermott but soon after laid him off for the win- 
ter. 

To Major Ellieott 's demand for an investigation the Com- 
missioners replied that they did not consider that there was any 
occasion for it; remarking that they felt no animosity against 
him, and that they were much more concerned than gratified 
at the address to him in the Baltimore papers. They, however, 
requested of the Major either a personal communication or a 
report on the condition of affairs of his office ; to which he 
replied that he would make a report on May first when it w -s 
his intention to resign. A few days later Major Ellieott com- 
pleted a map of the federal territory which had been requested 
of him by the President ; and on February 11, the Commissioners 
sent him with this map to Philadelphia, writing at the same time 
to Mr. Jefferson that they had had some explanations with him 



154 History of the City of Washington. 

which rendered them better satisfied than at the time of their 
last writing a short time previously. 

On leaving for Philadelphia, Major Ellicott agreed to meet 
with the Commissioners at their next meeting in March. On his 
way to this meeting, Doctor Stuart met Dermott in Virginia, 
when the latter repeated a statement which he had previously 
made while in a state of intoxication, alleging that a number of 
discrepancies existed between the measurement of the squares 
on the ground and as returned in the Surveyor's office. At 
Doctor Stuart's request Dermott attended the meeting and 
presented his charges in writing. After waiting nearly a week 
for Major Ellicott 's return, the Commissioners ordered Mr. Geo. 
Fenwick one of the surveying staff, to remeasure the squares 
where Dermott had alleged the errors to exist; and a number 
of errors were found. A day or two later, Major Ellicott 
returned and was requested to make a written statement explain- 
ing the errors. This he refused to do saying that Dermott had 
stolen a number of important papers necessary for a complete 
statement, among them the draft of L 'Enfant 's plan, but offer- 
ing to make a verbal statement. The Commissioners refused to 
accept a verbal statement saying: 

"We think it very far from a work of Time to give us 
the satisfaction required and in the manner we desired, 
and from 10 to 110 Feet of Land in a Square not so triffling 
a Difference, between Seller and Buyer as not to draw at 
least their attention. The work cannot with propriety nor 
shall proceed, till what is done has been examined and Mis- 
takes endeavoured at least to be rectified." 
Having procured the L 'Enfant map, which was a partial 
copy made by Mr. Hallett from the original, from Mr. Dermott, 
they advised Ellicott the next day that "Mr. Dermott has shown 
no signs of Concealment of any papers. He acknowledged his 
having possession of Major L 'Enfant 's old Draft without any 
hesitation, and has given it to us, and without request another 
paper or two." 

The Commissioners after an extensive interchange of ideas 
with Major Ellicott, proceeded on the 14th of March, 1793, to 
announce a set of regulations pertaining to the conduct of the 



History of the City of Washington. 155 

office, which outlined the system under which the survey of the 
city was completed. The squares were to be remeasured by 
Mr. Fenwick. Dermott who had previously laid down the lines 
of Hamburgh upon the plat of that part of the city was directed 
to do the same with regard to Carrollsburgh. His spare time 
was to be devoted to dividing squares into lots as certified to 
him by the measurers, and to report any disagreements between 
the measurements returned to him and those on the general plan. 
Major Ellicott was directed to proceed with the work of laying 
off the streets, avenues and squares on the ground. Under this 
arrangement the work continued for about two weeks when 
Major Ellicott, who, still smarting under the criticism directed 
against him, made a personal statement of his grievances to 
President Washington, who was passing through on his way to 
Mount Vernon, and invoked the aid of the latter in obtaining 
an investigation. The President promised to ask this of the 
Commissioners, taking occasion, nevertheless, to advise Ellicott 
that his attitude towards the Commissioners, so far as appeared 
from the correspondence, had not been respectful; and empha- 
sizing his indisposition to interfere with the functions of the 
latter. The following day he kept his promise, submitting to 
the Commissioners, in his usual tactful manner, the question 
whether an investigation would not be advisable rather than a 
newspaper altercation, which he thought likely to follow a refusal 
of it. 

In compliance with this letter the Commissioners spent 
several days in going over the affairs of the surveying depart- 
ment with Major Ellicott, with the result that an agreement was 
reached and set forth in an order dated April 9, providing that 
Major Ellicott was to direct the field work and be answerable 
for its accuracy and dispatch. He was required as soon as 
squares should be finished and marked out on the ground, to 
deliver to the Commissioners' Clerk at their office, certificates 
to that effect; giving the location and measurements of the 
square. The work from time to time was to be added on the 
large plat, which was to be considered as a record. It was stated 
that the Surveyor ought to have the work certified to him by his 



156 History of the City of Washington. 

assistants for his own protection, as the Commissioners would 
look only to him. The work of platting and dividing squares, 
left as before to Mr. Dermott, was stated not to be considered 
within the surveying department. Major Ellicott was made 
head of the surveying department, with Isaac Briggs, Benjamin 
Ellicott and Geo. Fenwick, as his assistants. 

Taking up the regulations to govern Mr. Dermott 's work, 
the Commissioners on the following day directed that Dermott 
should apply from time to time to their Clerk and take minutes 
of the squares from certificates returned by the surveyor. From 
these he was to plat the squares on a scale of forty feet to the 
inch and divide them into lots. In one corner of the paper he 
was to write down the substance of the certificate. Shortly 
afterwards Dermott was further directed to make out three plats 
for each square ; one for recording with the Clerk of the District, 
one for the Commissioners' office, and one for the proprietors. 

Owing to the discrepancies which had been found between 
the squares as platted and as laid out on the ground, it had 
previously been ordered that the surveyor who should be direct- 
ed to lay out any lot should at the same time measure and mark 
out all lots on the same line of the square of which it was a 
part, and if he should find any excess to divide it, or if a 
deficiency, to abate in each lot for the deficiency pro rata. It 
was also ordered that all divisions of squares between the propri- 
etors and the public thereafter made, should contain a stipula- 
tion agreeing to the arrangement just mentioned for prorating 
any excess or deficiency. 

On July 19, 1793, Major Ellicott went to Philadelphia to 
engage in other work, advising the Commissioners on his depart- 
ure that his personal attention to the survey would not be 
required for some time, and that he would leave the work in 
charge of his assistants, Isaac Briggs and Benjamin Ellicott 
during his absence. The surveying was carried on by these two 
during the summer and fall; reports of its progress being 
required of them by the Commissioners at each of their meet- 
ings. Almost without exception, in making these reports, Briggs 
and Ellicott took occasion to make disparaging statements with 



History of the City of Washington. 157 

reference to Dermott; to charge him with having moved stakes; 
with being a disreputable character; and with having boasted 
while drunk that he had "put the affairs of the city on such a 
train they would never be right again. ' ' 

To these assertions the Commissioners for a long time paid 
no attention. Finally, their patience became exhausted, and 
they wrote on October 17, 1793, to Briggs, inviting him to meet 
with them and if possible substantiate his charges against 
Dermott. 

The meeting developed into a stormy interview, at the end 
of which Briggs was dismissed from the service, and Benjamin 
and Joseph Ellicott with George Fenwick were left in charge of 
the survey. Under the latter arrangement matters went on 
smoothly until the 9th of December, when Major Ellicott 
returned and informed the Commissioners that he had re-estab- 
lished himself at the head of the department. The Commission- 
ers replied that as matters had proceeded much more satisfac- 
torily in his absence than before, and as they had not had his 
services during the summer months when they would have been 
most useful, they would not add to the expense of the establish- 
ment by employing him during the winter. They continued 
Major Ellicott 's brothers in their employ, but peace was impossi- 
ble so long as Major Ellicott remained in Georgetown. He spent 
his time voicing his complaints to the residents of the latter 
place and stirring up dissatisfaction with the Commissioners 
among them. With his brothers, too, he made his influence felt ; 
instigating them to revive the old story of the theft of the 
L 'Enfant draft by Dermott, which they did by inserting in the 
Georgetown paper the following advertisement : 
"Six Dollars Reward 
Stop the Thief ! 
"Was stolen from the Surveyor's office, some time in the 
latter part of the year 1792, a manuscript draft, or Plan 
of the City of Washington, given, in trust, to me by Major 
L 'Enfant. The person formerly suspected for this infamous 
conduct was a certain James Mac Dermott 'alias' James R. 
Dermott, who has twice acknowledged the theft. 

"He is a native of Ireland, well made, about five feet ten 
inches high, has a remarkably red face, an impudent brazen 



158 History of the City of Washington. 

look, dark-colored hair, which he commonly wears tied 
behind. Whoever will take up the said Thief, and commit 
him to any jail in the United States, so that he may be 
brought to condign punishment shall receive the above 
reward from 

Benjamin Ellicott. " 

In the same issue they published over Benjamin's name, an 
open communication to the Commissioners, stating the manner 
in which Ellicott had come into possession of the map ; that his 
brother had told him that it had been stolen ; that it had appeared 
from an extract of a letter of the Commissioners published a 
few days previously in the same paper (this was at their own 
instigation) that the Commissioners had received it; and that 
"in this public and pointed manner" he requested that it be 
immediately given up as he was determined to prosecute with the 
utmost rigor of the law, the person who had taken it. 

The result of this publication was that on March 31, 1794, 
the Commissioners ordered the Ellicotts "to deliver over to 
George Penwick all papers and everything else in the survey- 
ing department." They added "This will terminate your official 
employment and our official discussions with you." 

Sometime after this the attention of the Commissioners was 
drawn by the President to two lengthy letters which had been 
addressed to the President by Andrew Ellicott, Isaac Briggs and 
Benjamin Ellicott on June 29, 1793, and February 28, 1794. 
These letters set forth at length the complaint of the writers 
against the Commissioners and Dermott. The Commissioners' 
reply under date of March 23, 1794, which sets forth at length 
the history of their relations with Ellicott contains many facts 
in connection with this unfortunate quarrel of particular inter- 
est because they refer to the man who later prepared the so- 
called "Tin Case" or Dermott Map of the City, which was 
officially authenticated by Presidents Washington and Adams as 
delineating the streets and reservations of the city. In the course 
of this letter they say : 

"Nor is the Major better grounded in his charge against 
Dermott of habitual Drunkenness. We were unwilling to 
Take his malice or the mouthing of some of the people of 



History of the City of Washington. 159 

Georgetown as Evidence of it, we were well informed that 
he had now and then drank to access and when inebriated 
that he is unruly and quarrelsome but we did not perceive 
that its frequency injured the business he was engaged in; 
we made inquiry and formed an opinion not that he was the 
most discreet nor faulty in this particular to a very uncom- 
mon degree; he has since tabled at Sims's for near a year 
with Gentlemen of much sobriety and propriety of con- 
duct in every respect as any in George Town, who speak 
well of him. The Major would be far from gaining by plac- 
ing his moral character in one Scale and Dermott's in the 
other. 

' ' The Major is always giving verbal evidence of his attach- 
ment to the interest of the City but neither he nor any 
body introduced by him has purchased a Lot. Dermott says 
nothing about his attachment that we have ever heard, but 
out of his savings, on moderate wages tho' a Drunkard, has 
purchased several Lots, and is improving according to his 

ability." 

# # * 

"Major Ellicott cannot but remember that more than 
once he spoke of Dermott as the readiest calculator he had 
but with and though in the Succeeding Summer he em- 
ployed him wholly or nearly so as an Overseer to overlook the 
negroes in cutting down the Trees in the Streets and 
Avenues previous to the Sale in the fall and preparatory 
to it he employed him in calculating the Areas and divid- 
ing the Squares. 

"The Commissioners saw the impropriety of employing 
Dermott to overlook the cutting down the Avenues and 
Streets at his wages and especially as he was an European 
he had probably never had anything to do of the kind they 
perceived too Dermott's uneasiness at his Situation and 

were glad to see that Ellicott had changed it." 

# * # 

"On Major Ellicott 's evading the delivery of the papers 
we went with Colo Deakins to Prouts house where he then 
kept his Office and made a personal demand of them. He 
then told us that Dermott had stolen a plan of the City 
describing it. Mr. Johnson remarked it was a severe charge 
for which he ought to be well grounded before he made it, 
Major Ellicott said he had stolen it. that it was in his 
Trunk and he could prove enough to obtain a Search War- 
rant, and if we could break open his Trunk we should find 



160 History of the City of Washington. 

it. Mr. Johnson replied that the end might perhaps be 
answered by milder measures without going to that violence. 
On turning off he proposed to Dr. Stuart and Mr. Carroll 
to send for Dermott immediately on their return and ques- 
tion him about the plat and if he denied his having it to 
desire him to submit his Trunk to their Search. It was 
agreed to. Dermott was sent for and attended Mr. Johnson 
asked him if he had the plat, describing it. He answered 
yes — where is it? In my Trunk — The Commissioners wish 
to see it — I will bring it to you immediately Sir. Major 
Ellicott knows very well I have it and that I would deliver 
it to him at any time he'd ask for it. He expressed aston- 
ishment at Major Ellicott 's making, in his expression, a fuss 
about it for he knew he offered to deliver him any papers 
he had, and that Major Ellicott said it was no matter it 
would do as well some other time." 

Taking up Ellicott 's and Briggs' charge of the removal of 
stakes by Dermott, they say: 

"Another charge against Dermott was his changing and 
maliciously misplacing stakes. We heard nothing of that 
'till we perceived the greater part of a succeeding Summer 
was spent in going over the work of the preceeding, and 
then the excess was, that some body had altered the situa- 
tion of stakes, and it must be maliciously done because the 
alteration was so systematic that the greater part of a 
season was spent before it could be discovered. Dermott 
was said to know nothing of the system, but it was Dermott 
because he was malicious, and he was malicious because he 
did it. It was first suspicious, afterwards certain, it was 
first several stakes, afterwards one, and now amongst all 
Dermott 's crimes, this the most capital is omitted. Briggs 
at several times mentioned to Dr. Stuart that Dermott had 
altered the Stakes, the Doct. inquired if he had any proof 
of it Briggs acknowledged that he had not but suspected it, 
the Doctor remarked that it was a very delicate thing and 
that it would be unjust to act on suspicion. When in 
Briggs' altercation with the Commissioners he recurred 
again to the Story of the Stakes as an Evidence of Dermott 's 
infamous conduct, Dr. Stuart lost his Temper and spoke to 
him very roughly. The truth is the Commissioners had 
their suspicions too whether ill or well-founded they cannot 
say but they suspected that the whole story was invented 
to cover a mistake which had happened accidentally or for 
want of care. If the charge of altering the work, of steal- 



History of the City of Washington. 161 

ing or maliciously Secreting a paper ; or misplacing a stake 
was substantiated the result would surely be against 
Dermott. We have seen strong marks of candor in this 
Man we have no reason to suspect his telling us a lie. He 
shows an attention to the public Interest in his divisions, 
has his business in good order and gives us and others such 
ready answers that he must have the clearest and most 
comprehensive view of his department." 
Immediately after the close of the L 'Enfant incident Pres- 
ident Washington urged the Commissioners, as part of the 
general policy of vigorously prosecuting the affairs of the city, 
to hold another sale of lots at the earliest possible date and in 
response to his request the Commissioners on June 2, 1792, 
published an advertisement of a sale to be held in October, 
approximately one year after the first sale. In preparation for 
this sale and to avoid any charge of favoritism on the part of 
the proprietors, they directed Major Ellicott on September 1st 
to prepare divisions, between the public and the proprietors, of 
several squares near the President's House, the Capitol, the 
Commissioner's house (a building for their own accommodation 
which they contemplated erecting) the Judiciary, the Market, 
on the Canal, on the Mall and on the Eastern Branch, doing 
this when it was possible on the different proprietors' lands near 
each of the places named. The sale continued from October 
8th to 10th. 

For more than a year the subject of giving the Commis- 
sioners authority to dispose of lots at private sale had been 
under consideration by the President and shortly before the 
second public sale, he empowered them after that sale to sell 
or agree for the sale of lots in such terms as they might think 
proper. This course had been decided on largely as the result 
of the interest taken by Mr. Samuel Blodget, Jr., of Boston, 
who had engaged the attention of a number of wealthy men of 
that place as well, as of New York and Philadelphia, in the 
opportunity which the new city offered for real estate invest- 
ments. Shortly after the public sale in October 1792, Mr. 
Blodget and a party of friends, John Templeman, Nathan Bond, 
a Mr. Killand, Peter Gilman, Thomas Metcalf and Benjamin 



162 History of the City of Washington. 

Blodget, purchased fifteen lots at one hundred pounds each. 
Before he left, Mr. Blodget was commissioned to effect private 
sales in the northern and eastern cities, and so energetically did 
he execute his commission that on January 26, of the following 
year he reported the sale of fifty lots, saying "I have no doubt 
of making as many sales as will be prudent for I tender to all 
my obligation to receive again for my own Private a/c any or 
all such Lots as may be returned by the purchaser on any dis- 
like that may occur within ten years from the date of the con- 
tract. 50 Lotts are sold already on these terms (the particulars 
of which I will send you) in which I believe I am very safe as 
they are chiefly to sanguine, moneyed, Influential men just such 
as we want." 

A number of desultory sales of lots were made from time 
to time, but nothing of consequence in that line occurred until 
the execution of the famous Greenleaf contract, and its out- 
growth, the Greenleaf, Morris aflfl'""Mcholson transaction, to 
which reference will hereinafter be more fully made. 

While on the subject of Mr. Blodget, however, it is proper 
to make some reference to the two lotteries which he fathered. 

Mr. Blodget was undoubtedly a man of remarkable resource- 
fulness and ingenuity as well as of almost unlimited enthusiasm. 
Almost as soon as the Commissioners had entered upon the 
performance of their duties his interest in the new city began 
to manifest itself in the proposal to Mr. Jefferson of a scheme 
to buy up and build upon an entire street. So forcibly did this 
suggestion impress Mr. Jefferson that upon the latter 's recom- 
mendation the Commissioners directed that the surveying and 
platting of squares should be confined to those on the diagonal 
between the President's House and the House of Congress in the 
anticipation of the materialization of Mr. Blodget 's scheme. 
During his presence with his friends at Georgetown in October, 
1792, Mr. Blodget unfolded to the Commissioners and received 
their consent to a plan for a lottery commonly mentioned as 
the hotel lottery, and hereinafter more fully set forth, for the 
purpose of stimulating interest in the new city. Mr. Blodget 
on returning to Philadelphia, lost no time in putting his lottery 



History of the City of Washington. 163 

under way, publishing under date of January 3, 1793, the fol- 
lowing prospectus : 

"By the Commissioners appointed to prepare the public 
buildings, etc., within the City of Washington for the recep- 
tion of Congress, and for the permanent residence after the 
year 1800. A lottery for the improvement of the Federal 
City 50,000 tickets at 7 dollars are 350,000 dollars. List of 
prizes : 
1 Superb Hotel with Baths, out house, etc., etc., to 

cost $ 50,000 

1 Cash Prize _ 25,000 

1 Ditto 20,000 

1 Ditto 15,000 

1 Ditto _ 10,000 

2 Ditto 5,000 are 10,000 

10 Ditto 1,000 10,000 

20 Ditto 500 10,000 

100 Do 100 10,000 

200 Do 50 10,000 

400 Do _ 25 10,000 

1,000 Do 20 _ 20,000 

15,000 Do 10 150,000 



16,737 Prizes 
33,263 Blanks 



50,000 Dollars 350,000 

the sole design of this lottery being to facilitate other im- 
provements together with the public buildings it is the 
particular desire of the Commissioners that there may be 
effected with as few deductions from the prizes as possible ; 
how far their endeavors may be answered the scheme of the 
lottery will demonstrate. The Keys of the Hotel, when com- 
plete, will be delivered to the fortunate possessor of the ticket 
drawn against its number all the prizes will be paid with- 
out deduction in one month after the drawing by the City 
Treasurer at Washington or at such Bank or Banks as may 
be hereafter announced. The drawing will commence on 
Monday the 9th of September next at the City of Wash- 
ington. Tickets may be had of Col. Win. Dickens, City 
Treasurer of Washington : of Messrs. James West and Co., 
Baltimore; of Mr. Peter Gilman, Boston, and such other 
places as will hereafter be published. N. B. one hundred 
Dollars will be given for the best plan of an elegant and 



164 History of the City of Washington. 

convenient Hotel or Inn, with hot and cold baths, stables 
and other out houses, if presented on or before the 20th 
of April, and a preference will be given to the artist for a 
contract provided he be duly qualified to complete his plan. 
The ground on which the Hotel and out houses are to be 
erected will be a corner lot of about 90 by 200 feet with 
a back avenue to the stables, etc., sections and estimates of 
the expense will be expected with the elevations, etc., com- 
pleat — and 50,000 Dollars must be regarded by the architect, 
as the unmost limit in the expense intended for this purpose. 
January 3. S. Blodget, 

Agent for the Affairs of the City. ' ' 
This lottery, it should be remarked was solely Mr. Blodget 's 
private affair so far as the profits and the responsibility for the 
payment of prizes was concerned, notwithstanding the fact that 
the announcement of it proclaimed it to the Public as being held 
by the Commissioners. At the solicitation of Mr. Blodget, Col. 
Deakins was joined with him in the management of the lottery. 
The tickets were bought up with avidity in Georgetown, Balti- 
more, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, with the result that 
in April, 1793, Mr. Blodget proposed a new lottery. The Com- 
missioners were in some doubt as to the advisability of a second 
lottery and nothing further was done about it at the time. 

When the time for drawing prizes arrived, much dissatis- 
faction appeared among the public with the manner of drawing 
the prizes. Kumors became current that the Commissioners had 
leagued with Blodget to take advantage of the people by delay 
in drawing prizes, thus enabling them to buy in prizes at a great 
discount. Among the poorer people doubts arose as to whether 
the prizes could be paid ; and it was asserted by some that the 
''Capitals" had not been put into the wheel. Alarmed by those 
signs of dissatisfaction, the Commissioners on September 20, 
1793, obtained from Blodget and Deakins an agreement reciting 
that the Commissioners were in no way connected with the' 
lottery, and promising severally to indemnify the latter against 
all claims on account of prizes drawn against tickets sold by 
Blodget and Deakins respectively. Early in December, 1793, 
Blodget informed the Commissioners that he had sold several 
thousand tickets in a new lottery. To the holding of this the 



History of the City of Washington. 165 

Commissioners at first demurred, then flatly forbade any 
representation of themselves as having anything to do with it, 
writing him on the 21st of December : 

"It may be, that many, and indeed most you converse 
with, may be fond of another Lottery and may to you, 
approve the Manner of Conducting of the present, but the 
Majority of those who speak to us on this subject express 
very different sentiments and many of them friends of the 
City as well as ourselves. We certainly shall never give 
countenance to a Lottery further than mere naked consent, 
as was designed in the present, nor that, unless proper secur- 
ity is given before any tickets are disposed of. This is not 
from any suspicion of you but from a sense of propriety 
which ought to make the Rule universal." 
Notwithstanding this manifestation of displeasure with his 
new scheme, Mr. Blodget on the first of the new year — 1794 — 
came out with a publication of his second lottery offering $400,- 
000 in prizes, the most important of which were a $50,000 prize 
consisting of a $20,000 dwelling house with $30,000 in cash, 
and lesser prizes, consisting of less expensive dwelling houses 
accompanied with cash prizes, ranging from $40,000 down to 
$10,000; the scheme of giving houses as prizes being, as in the 
case of the Hotel, both to furnish a pretext for and to give an 
official coloring to the lottery, and to induce the consent of the 
Commissioners to Blodget 's giving to the lottery the appearance 
of its being held under their auspices. 

Both the Commissioners and the President becoming thor- 
oughly alarmed at the prospect of a public scandal to result from 
non-payment of prizes in either or both of these schemes, the 
Commissioners on January 28, 1794, obtained from Blodget a 
conveyance to Thomas Johnson, Jr., and Thomas Peter of a 
large amount of property which he owned in the federal terri- 
tory, including the tract known as "Jamaica" which he had 
purchased in January, 1792, of Philip K. Fendall. together with 
7,160 shares which he held in The Insurance Company of North 
-America; this conveyance being in trust to secure the payment 
of the prizes in the hotel lottery. The closing up of the lottery 
was put in the hands of Mr. George Taylor, Chief Clerk of the 
office of the Secretary of State and Mr. Richard Harrison, 



166 History of the City of Washington. 

Auditor of the Treasurer, who devoted some months to the task 
of examining the tickets and certifying the payment of prizes 
as made. While this was being attended to Blodget continued 
his efforts to put the second lottery before the public as a 
project of the Commissioners. The latter required him on May 
29, 1794, to sign a written statement which recited: 

"In order to remove any doubts which may have arisen 
or that may hereafter arise I do hereby declare that it is 
not now nor has it ever been considered by me that the 
Commissioners of the City of Washington were ever respon- 
sible either in their Public or their private capacities for 
the Lottery N 2 or the conducting thereof, I having pro- 
ceeded on the Sales at my own private risque under their 
express declaration that they would not be held responsible 
directly or Indirectly for this Business in any event or in 
any manner whatever. 

Sam'l Blodget." 

Even the execution of this statement failed to put a check 
on Blodget 's attempts to publish the second lottery as sanctioned 
by the Commissioners, with the result that they finally published 
their disavowal of it in both the Philadelphia and Baltimore 
papers. Several open communications- .between them and Blodget 
passed through the same channels with the result that Blodget 
appears finally to have become discredited by the public. The 
hotel though partially erected was never completed by Blodget 
and the holder of the prize, Robert S. Bickley, was compelled to 
bring suit against Blodget in Pennsylvania for damaf^ result- 
ing from its non-completion. Having recovered a mone> judg- 
ment in this suit he brought proceedings in the District of 
Columbia to collect the same out of the property conveyed by 
Blodget to Johnson and Peters to secure the payment of the 
lottery prizes. The litigation lasted as late as the year 1818. 
The hotel stood on the northwest corner at Seventh and E 
Streets, northwest, and in 1800 was partially reconstructed as 
the United States Theatre, the first theatre in the new city. 

The practical effect of the hotel lottery upon the affairs of 
the city was summed up by the Commissioners in a letter to 
Mr. Randolph, the Secretary of State, written at the time of 



History of the City of Washington. 167 

the execution by Blodget of the deed to Johnson and Peter, 
wherein they say : ' ' "We feel ourselves relieved and easy on the 
present Lottery which though it has occasioned anxiety to us, 
has, we are satisfied on the whole been useful in bringing the 
City into general view and contemplation." 

"While the controversy between the Commissioners and 
Major L 'Enfant, relative to the destruction of Mr. Carroll's 
house, was going on, the Maryland Act of December 19, 1791, 
ratifying the cession of the federal territory to the United States 
was passed. This act, while its primary purpose was as just 
indicated, was in fact of an omnibus character and dealt with a 
multitude of matters relating to both the federal territory and 
the federal city. In connection with two supplemental acts 
passed by the Maryland Legislature it, with the deeds in trust, 
constitutes for all practical purposes the foundation upon which 
all titles to land within the original limits of the city of Wash- 
ington rest. Its importance justifies more than a passing notice. 

The necessity for an act ratifying the cession of the federal 
territory to the United States had been suggested by Mr. Jeffer- 
son so far back as March, 1791, in the memorandum entitled 
"Objects which may merit the attention of the President at 
George T.," which he handed the President previous to the 
latter 's visit to Georgetown which resulted in the preliminary 
agreement signed by the proprietors on March 30, 1791. In the 
course of this memorandum Mr. Jefferson says: "That State 
(Maryland) will necessarily have to pass another act confirm- 
ing wh ... .ver location shall be made, because her former act 
authorized the delegates then in office to convey the land. But 
as they were not located, no conveyance has been made, and 
thos' persons are now out of office and dispersed." The argu- 
ment ivanced by Mr. Jefferson explains the reasons for the 
portion of the act ratifying the cession, which portion reads as 
follows: 

"Whereas in the cession of this State, heretofore made, 

of territory for the Government of the United States, the 

lines of such cession could not be particularly designated; 

and it being expedient and proper that the same should be 

recognized in the acts of this State — 



168 History of the City of Washington. 

"2. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary- 
land, That all that part of the said territory called Columbia 
which lies within the limits of this State shall be, and the 
same is hereby, acknowledged to forever ceded and relin- 
quished to the Congress and Government of the United 
States, and full and absolute right and exclusive jurisdic- 
tion, as well of soil as of persons residing or to reside there- 
on, pursuant to the tenor and effect of the eighth section of 
the first article of the Constitution of Government of the 
United States : Provided, That nothing herein contained 
shall be so construed to vest in the United States any right 
of property in the soil as to affect the rights of individuals 
therein, otherwise than the same shall or may be transferred 
by such individuals to the United States : And provided 
also, That the jurisdiction of the laws of this State over 
the persons and property of individuals residing within the 
limits of the cession aforesaid shall not cease or determine 
until Congress shall, by law, provide for the government 
thereof, under their jurisdiction, in manner provided by the 
article of the Constitution before recited." 
The act then proceeds to make provision for the vesting of 
title in the trustees Beall and Gantt and the platting and divis- 
ion between the proprietors and the public of such lands as had 
not been conveyed to the trustees by deeds. It recited the fact 
that most of the land in the city had been conveyed to the 
trustees and that on the strength of that fact the city had been 
designated by the President, and stated it as the sense of the 
Maryland Assembly that it appeared just that all the lands 
within the city should contribute in due proportion to the means 
which had already greatly enhanced the value of the whole; 
and provided two methods by which the Commissioners should 
be empowered to bring about that end. The first had reference 
to the lands belonging to minors, persons absent out of the State, 
married women, or persons non compos mentis, and lands belong- 
ing to the State. As to the lands of such owners within the limits 
of Carrollsburgh and Hamburgh the Act provided that they 
should be subjected to the terms and conditions contained in the 
deeds already executed by many of the owners of lots in those 
towns. As to all other lands within the limits of the city belong- 
ing to the several classes of owners mentioned the act provided 



History of the City of Washington. 169 

that they should be subjected to the same terms and conditions 
as those contained in the deeds from Notley Young, Daniel 
Carroll of Duddington and others. As to the divisions of lots 
between the public and such proprietors the act went on to 
provide that where the proprietor was incompetent or failed 
to attend on three months' advertisement of notice in the Mary- 
land Journal and Baltimore Advertiser, the Maryland Herald, 
and the Georgetown and Alexandria papers, the Commissioners 
might allot the portion of such proprietor as near the old situa- 
tion as possible where his land lay in Carrollsburgh and Ham- 
burgh, and that as to the other lands within the city the 
Commissioners should make such allotment in alternate lots; 
provided that in cases of coverture and infancy the husband, 
guardian, or next friend might agree as to the allotment, and 
that in cases of contrary claims, where the claimants would not 
agree, the Commissioners might proceed as if the proprietors 
were absent. As an additional method of compelling the cession 
of the unconveyed lands the Commissioners were vested with 
power to condemn the lands of any who should not have executed 
conveyances within three months of the passage of the act, by 
means of a special jury of five, the lands when condemned and 
paid for to vest in the Commissioners in trust to be disposed 
of by them or otherwise employed to the use of the city of Wash- 
ington. This section repeals the former act of Maryland "to 
condemn lands for the public buildings of the United States," 
which had been passed in 1790 for the purpose of authorizing 
the condemnation of the lots in Hamburgh. 

The next section of the act was designed to render incontro- 
vertible the titles acquired by purchasers, whether from the 
public or from the proprietors. It provided that purchases of 
lots from the United States, or purchases or leases from private 
persons, claiming to be proprietors who, or those under whom 
they claimed, had been in posession of the lands purchased or 
leased in their own right for five years next before the passage 
of the act, should be "good and effectual for the estate, and on 
the terms and conditions of such purchases and leases, respect- 
ively, without impeachment, and against any contrary title now 



170 History of the City of Washington. 

existing." In the case of a conveyance by any person not hav- 
ing the right to make it the act provided that the true owner 
might recover all money received by the person making the 
conveyance both for land appropriated by the United States 
and for that sold or leased. 

The next section was passed with a view to inducing wealthy 
foreigners to invest their money and settle in the new city. It 
gave to foreigners the same right to take and hold lands within 
that part of the federal territory lying within the State of Mary- 
land, and to dispose of them, as if they were citizens of the State, 
providing, however, that no other privileges of citizenship should 
be thereby conferred. 

The act then provided for a recorder of deeds, and for the 
acknowledgment of deeds and required that no deed thereafter 
made or lease for more than seven years should be effectual 
unless recorded within six months. 

Another section provided for builders' liens, and authorized 
the Commissioners, until Congress should exercise jurisdiction 
over the federal territory, to license and regulate the building 
of wharves, to make regulations for the discharge of ballast, for 
landing and laying building materials and the disposal of earth 
dug from cellars, wells, and foundations, for ascertaining the 
thickness of walls of houses, and the retailing of distilled spirits. 
As to the latter, it is curious to note that the act defines retail- 
ing as selling in quantities of less than ten gallons to the same 
person. 

The financial needs of the Commissioners were given consid- 
eration in the act by a provision that the treasurer of the West- 
ern shore should be required to pay the seventy-two thousand 
dollars agreed to be advanced to the President in sums as they 
might come into his hands on the appointed funds without wait- 
ing for the day appointed in the original act for the payment 
thereof. 

The authorship of this act is undoubtedly to be credited to 
Mr. Johnson, the record of the proceedings of the Commissioners 
for September 8, 1791, reciting that a draft of the law had been 
that day submitted by Mr. Johnson. It was a painstaking work, 



History of the City of Washington. 171 

going into minute detail to provide for every contingency that 
might arise under any of the subjects to which it referred ; and 
in its preparation, as in that of the deeds of trust, Mr. Johnson 
vindicated the President's selection of him as one of the Com- 
missioners. One provision of the act was probably the result 
of Mr. Jefferson's influence, viz. — the provision for workmen's 
liens. Justice White, in his dissenting opinion in the Potomac 
Flats cases,* calls attention to the fact that this provision was 
foreign to the English law but well known to the civil law 
which prevailed in France. It is more than likely that Mr. 
Jefferson became familiar with it during his four years' stay 
in the latter country. The authority for all the provisions of 
the act, except that ratifying the cession, is found in the clause 
in the Act of Congress of July 16, 1790, for establishing the 
temporary and permanent seat of the Government of the United 
States ("the Residence Act"), which provides that "the oper- 
ation of the laws of the State within such district shall not be 
affected by this acceptance until the time fixed for the removal 
of the government thereto, and until Congress shall by law 
otherwise provide." 

Under authority of this act the Commissioners on January 
6, 1792, appointed John Mackall Gantt, Clerk for recording 
deeds of lands within the Territory of Columbia. 

Two supplements to this act were later passed by the Mary- 
land legislature. The first arose out of a doubt as to whether 
it was necessary that deeds to property within that part of the 
Territory of Columbia ceded by Maryland should, in addition 
to being recorded according to the provisions of the original 
law, be recorded in conformity to the laws of the State as they 
existed prior to the passage of that law. The supplement, which 
was passed December 23, 1792, provided that deeds recorded 
agreeably to the original law should be as effective as if also 
recorded in the manner prescribed by the laws of the State 
existing prior to the passage of the original law. 

The second supplement, passed December 28, 1793, was 

♦Morris v. U. S. 174 U. S. 196. 



172 History of the City of Washington. 

designed to meet a number of exigencies which had arisen in 
connection with the disposition of property in the city. 

The first section made it unnecessary for the Commission- 
ers to execute formal deeds to the purchasers of public lots in 
the city, by providing that the certificates of the Commissioners 
acknowledging the receipt of the purchase money should be 
effectual without a formal conveyance. The second section 
resulted from the difficulty experienced in collecting the deferred 
payments due on lots purchased from the Commissioners and 
authorized the Commissioners to resell at public sale on sixty 
days' notice lots purchased of the public where any deferred 
payments should not be met within thirty days from the time 
they became due, paying over to the original purchaser any 
balance of the purchase price after deducting the amount due 
from him with costs of sale. 

The third enabled the Commissioners to make divisions 
between the public and the owners of all lots in Carrollsburgh 
and Hamburgh after three weeks' publication as if the propri- 
etors lived out of the state, the latter class being provided for 
in the original act. The fourth section authorized a seal of 
office for and the collection of fees by the Clerk for recording 
deeds within the "District of Columbia," this being, it is 
believed, the first legislative employment of that name. 

With the exception of having some of the clay thrown up 
from the foundations of the Capitol and President's House in 
the fall of 1791, the first step looking to the erection of those 
buildings was taken on March 14, 1792, when an advertisement 
was ordered to be published in the principal towns of the United 
States announcing that five hundred dollars or a medal of that 
value at the option of the party would be given for the most 
approved plan submitted before July 15, next, for a President's 
House. It was added that it should be a recommendation of 
any plan if the central part of it might be detached and erected 
for the present with the appearance of a complete whole and 
be capable of admitting the additional parts in future, if they 
should be wanted. 

A premium of a lot and five hundred dollars or a medal 



History of the City of Washington. 173 

of that value was offered for the most approved plan for the 
Capitol and two hundred and fifty dollars or a medal for the 
plan deemed next in merit, the building to be of brick and to 
contain the following compartments: 

"A conference room, a room for the representatives, suffi- 
cient to accommodate 300 persons each; a lobby or ante- 
chamber to the latter, a senate room of 1200 square feet 
area, an ante-chamber or lobby to the latter, these rooms 
to be of full elevation. 12 rooms of 600 square feet area 
each for committee rooms and clerk's offices to be of half 
the elevation of the former." 

On July 16 and 17, 1792, President Washington met with 
the Commissioners and examined the plans which had been 
submitted. No decision was reached as to the plans for the 
Capitol as none of those submitted was regarded as satisfactory. 
For the President's house the plan of James Hoban of 
Charleston, S. C, was given first prize, he electing to receive a 
gold medal of the value of eight or ten guineas and the balance 
in money. A second prize of one hundred and fifty dollars 
was awarded to John Collins. Mr. Hoban was at once employed 
at a salary of three hundred guineas per year to make drawings 
and superintend the execution of his plan of the "palace" 
and of such other works of that kind as might be in execution. 
The day following the adoption of Hoban 's design the 
Commissioners, in company with Mr. Hoban went to the 
ground intended for the site of the President's House for the 
purpose of laying out the plan of the foundation on 
the ground. Major L 'Enfant had previously staked out the 
lines of the foundation upon considerably larger dimensions 
than those contemplated in Mr. Hoban 's design and the Com- 
missioners, being at a loss how to adjust the discrepancy, 
awaited the return of the President who had proceeded to 
Mount Vernon. 

On August 2nd, the President rejoined Commissioners Car- 
roll and Stuart and on the following day went over the ground 
with them. The fixing of the exact site of the building caused 
the President no inconsiderable difficulty. His final conclu- 
sion was that instead of dividing equally on all sides the differ- 
ence between Hoban 's and L 'Enfant \s ground areas, the north 



174 History of the City of Washington. 

front of the building should be brought up to the point fixed 
therefore by Major L'Enfant, the chief reason for his decision 
being that in this position the building would be ''most in view 
to the diagonals, and on E. W. Street, though not so much so, 
from the Capitol, as might be wished." 

On October 13th, following, according to the record of their 
proceedings for that date "the Commissioners, accompanied by 
a numerous collection of free-masons, architects and inhabitants 
of the cities of Washington and Georgetown, went in procession 
and laid the first corner stone of the President 's House. ' ' 

At the time of the adoption of Mr. Hoban's design it was 
thought desirable to increase the size of the building one-fifth, 
and Mr. Hoban accordingly enlarged his plans as directed in 
this particular. The expense of the enlarged plan he estimated 
by comparison with the cost of the Dublin Exchange at £77,900 
Sterling. Somewhat taken back by these figures, the Commis- 
sioners submitted to the President, along with a statement of 
the financial prospects for the coming year, the question of 
reverting to Mr. Hoban's original plan. The President's reply 
under date of March 3, 1793, illustrates the intensely practical 
turn of his mind. He said : 

"It was always my idea (and if I am not mistaken Mr. 
Hoban coincided in the propriety and practicability of it) 
that the building should be so arranged that only a part of 
it should be erected at the present; and upon such a plan 
as to make the part so erected an entire building and to 
admit of an addition in future as circumstances might ren- 
der proper, without hurting but rather adding to the beauty 
and magnificence of the whole as an original. I was led to 
this idea by considering that a House which would be very 
proper for a President of the United States for some years 
to come, might not be considered as corresponding with 
other circumstances at a more distant period : and therefore, 
to avoid the inconvenience which might arise hereafter on 
that subject, I wished the building to be upon the plan I 
have mentioned. ' ' 

Notwithstanding their recommendation in favor of the re- 
duced plan, the Commissioners upon further reflection, reversed 
themselves and finally determined to construct the building 
upon the enlarged plan. Their decision and the grounds there- 



History of the City of Washington. 175 

for, were set forth in a communication to Mr. Hoban under date 

of March 14, 1793, wherein they say : 

"On reflecting on all circumstances we believe it will be 
best to begin the President's House on the large plan with 
a present intention of dropping a story in the execution. 
It will according to your idea described bring it on a whole, 
to much about the same expense as in the smaller, length 
and breadth, with the addition of the story- It will certain- 
ly not sink the neighboring buildings so much and perhaps 
the beauty of the whole may be increased. Besides if the 
funds should serve out and opinion should lend to it in 
the progress of the work the large scale may be carried 
through. ' ' 
The reference to "dropping a story" is believed to have 

arisen from an original purpose to make the President's House 

three stories high. This idea is born out by a letter from Mr. 

Hoban to the Commissioners dated October 15, 1793, wherein 

he says : 

"The whole of the Stone Cutters now in employ are pre- 
paring Ashler, and Architraves, calculated to suit the Pres- 
ident's House; either to finish with two Storys on the 
present basement agreeable to your Idea given me some 
time ago; or to finish with three Storys, so as to accord 
with the plan. * * * N. B. Should the President's 
House be found Sufficient for the purposes intended, with 
two Story 's on the present basement, still retaining the same 
proportions as the Original design, I am of opinion in point 
of Ellegance it will have a better effect." 
The selection of a design for the Capitol proved to be a 
much more difficult task than was the case with that of the 
President's House. 

After the consideration and rejection by the President and 
the Commissioners of the plans submitted in response to the 
Commissioners' advertisement, Mr. Stephen Hallett, a French- 
man, whose plan had received much approbation, was requested 
to come on from Philadelphia at the expense of the city and 
view the ground in the expectation that this would enable him 
to improve upon his original design. On his arrival he made 
so favorable an impression that the Commissioners requested 
him to direct his efforts to perfecting a plan in line with certain 



176 History of the City of Washington. 

notes which they furnished him, assuring him that in any event 
he should not suffer by reason of a loss of his time. 

In the meantime Dr. William Thornton, of Philadelphia, 
who had been anxious to take part in the competition but had 
been prevented therefrom by his absence on a trip to the West 
Indies, finding on his return that no selection had been made, 
submitted his plan to the President in Philadelphia. The latter 
submitted the plan to the judgment of others with the result 
that the unanimous verdict was in favor of its adoption, and 
the President through Mr. Jefferson so notified the Commission- 
ers. The latter were naturally in a position of some delicacy 
by reason of their engagement with Hallett, as is evident from 
their reply of July 7, 1793, in which they tell Mr. Jefferson: 
"Though we are much pleased that we shall at length be 
furnished with a plan of a Capitol so highly satisfactory to the 
President, and all who have seen it, we feel sensibly for poor 
Hallett, and shall do everything in our power to sooth him. We 
hope he may be usefully employed notwithstanding. ' ' 

The tact with which they announced the news to Hallett 
was exceeded only by the loyalty with which they assumed and 
relieved the President of the responsibility for the decision. 
Their letter dated March 13, 1793, which follows, is worthy of 
restoration from the seclusion in which it has rested. 

"The plan you first offered for a Capitol appeared to us 
to have a great share of merit, none met with entire approba- 
tion, yours approaching the nearest to the leading ideas of 
the President and Commissioners. Your time has been 
engrossed in unremitted efforts under your hope and our 
wishes that you would have carried the prize. Our opinion 
has preferred Dr. Thornton's, and we expect the President 
will confirm our choice. Neither the Doctor nor yourself 
can demand the prize under the strict terms of our adver- 
tisement, but the public has been benefited by the emulation 
existed, and the end having been answered we shall give 
the reward of 500 dollars and a lot to Dr. Thornton. You 
certainly rank next, and because your application has been 
exited by the particular request, we have resolved to place 
you on the same footing as near as may be, that is to allow 
a compensation for everything to this time, £100 being the 
value of a lot and 500 dollars. ' ' 



History of the City of Washington. Ill 

The President sent Doctor Thornton to the Commissioners 
with a letter of introduction, wherein referring to the Doctor's 
design, he said : ' ' Grandure, simplicity and convenience, appear 
to be so well combined in this plan of Doctor Thornton's, that 
I have no doubt of its meeting with the approbation from you, 
which I have given it upon an attentive inspection and which 
it has received from all others who have seen it and are consid- 
ered as judges of such things. ' ' 

The difficulties with regard to the plan for the Capitol were 
not ended with the adoption of Dr. Thornton's design. The 
Commissioners believing it prudent to have the design thorough- 
ly understood by whomsoever should be entrusted with its execu- 
tion, requested Mr. Hallett to make a study of it. Mr. Hallett 
found many features of it which he reported were incapable of 
practical execution ; and of his own initiative prepared a revision 
of it so greatly simplifying and abridging the original as to 
reduce the estimated cost of the building approximately, one- 
half. This revised, or as it was afterwards termed, "reformed" 
plan, being favored over the original by Mr. Hoban and others, 
the Commissioners sent Mr. Hallett with it to Philadelphia to 
confer with the President who after consulting with Mr. Jeffer- 
son, submitted the decision on the criticisms of Dr. Thornton's 
plan to two builders of Philadelphia chosen by the Doctor for 
that purpose. The result is set forth by the President in the 
following letter to the Commissioners, under date of July 25, 
1793: 

"I enclose for your information, the copy of a letter 
from the Secretary of State to me, on the subject of the 
objection made to Doct. Thornton's plan of a capitol. By 
that Letter you will see that after a candid discussion it was 
found that the objections stated, were considered as valid, 
by both the persons chosen by Dr. Thornton as practical 
Architects and competent Judges of things of this kind. 

"And one of them (Mr. Carstairs) who appeared to have 
studied the matter with the most attention, pronounced them 
irremediable without an alteration of some parts of the 
plan: — the other (Colo. Williams) proposed Certain other 
methods of obviating some of the objections, but in what 
manner you will see, by the enclosed letter. The plan pro- 



178 History of the City of Washington. 

duced by Mr. Hallet, altho' preserving the original ideas 
of Doct. Thornton and such as might upon the whole be 
considered as his plan, was free from those objections, and 
was pronounced by the Gentlemen on the part of Doctr. 
Thornton, as the one which they, as practical Architects, 
would chuse to execute. Besides which you will see that, 
in the opinion of the Gentlemen, the plan executed accord- 
ing to Mr. Hallet 's ideas would not cost more than one-half 
of what it would if executed according to Doct. Thornton's. 
"After these opinions, there could remain no hesitation 
how to decide; and Mr. Hoban was accordingly informed 
that the foundation would be begun upon the plan as 
exhibited by Mr. Hallett, leaving the recess in the East 
front open for further consideration. If this meets your 
Ideas, the work of that building will progress as fast as 
circumstances will permit. It seems to be the wish that the 
Portico of the East front, which was in Doctor Thornton's 
original plan — should be preserved in this of Mr. Hallet 's. 
The recess which Mr. Hallet proposes in that front, strikes 
every one who has viewed the plan, unpleasantly, as the 
space between the two wings or projections is too contract- 
ed to give it the noble appearance of the buildings of which 
it is an imitation ; and it has been intimated that the reason 
of his proposing the recess instead of a portice, is to make 
it in one essential feature different from Doct. Thornton's 
plan. But whether the portice or the recess should be final- 
ly concluded upon, will make no different in the commence- 
ment of the foundation of the building, except in that 
particular part — and Mr. Hallet is directed to make such 
sketches of the Portico, before the work will be affected by 
it, as will shew the advantage thereof. The ostensible objec- 
tion of Mr. Hallet to the adoption of Doctr. Thornton's 
East front is principally the deprivation of light and air, 
in a degree to the apartments designed for the Senate and 
representatives. ' ' 

After the decision to adopt Mr. Hallett 's "reformed" plan, 
Mr. Hallett was directed to put it in shape for use in the erection 
of the building. He appears, however, to have developed a 
disposition not unlike that of Major L 'Enfant, for he had not 
been long engaged in the task allotted to him, before he became 
involved in a dispute with the Commissioners over the question 
of his authority in connection with the supervision of the con- 
struction work which had been delegated to Mr. Hoban. The 



History of the City of Washington. 179 

Commissioners politely informed Mr. Hallett that he was not 
to interfere with Mr. Hoban. Mr. Hallett thereupon refused to 
allow the use of the plans, claiming them as his own, and the 
Commissioners retained Mr. Philip B. Key to replevin them. 
The matter was finally adjusted without a suit and the services 
of Mr. Hallett dispensed with. 

The laying of the corner stone of the Capitol took place on 
September 18, 1793, with masonic ceremonies over which the 
President, as Master pro tempore of the Alexandria lodge, presid- 
ed. The proceedings which included a formal procession to the 
Capitol, were enlivened by the maneuvers and salvos of a com- 
pany of Virginia volunteer artillery. President Washington 
laid upon the corner stone which was located at the southeast 
corner of the building, a silver plate upon which was engraved 
the circumstances of the occasion ; after which he made an 
appropriate address. The ceremony was followed by a barbecue. 

The difficulties which confronted the Commissioners in 
connection with the erection of the public buildings was not 
confined to the selection of plans. For these works it was 
necessary to institute vigorous measures to find labor, tools and 
material; and the story of the efforts which the Commissioners 
made to obtain these essentials forms an interesting chapter in 
the city's history. 

Immediately following the sale of lots in October, 1791, the 
Commissioners began to take active steps to procure both labor 
and materials. In October, 1791, they requested Major L 'Enfant 
to purchase in his own name the stone quarries on Higgington's 
Island at Aquia Creek which had been advertised for sale by 
the trustees of Robert Brent, at not more than eleven pounds, 
Virginia currency, per acre. The Brent Trustees demanded 
£2,200 for the tract. Thinking this figure too high the Com- 
missioners obtained leases on two neighboring tracts, wbereupon 
the price on the Brent property was reduced to £1,300, and the 
Commissioners purchased it at that figure, the deed being dated 
February 19, 1792. 

On November 25, 1791, the Commissioners contracted for 
two thousand logs, thirty-six feet long, hewn on three sides to 
square twelve inches for use in building wharves. 



180 History of the City of Washington. 

Earlier in the summer the Commissioners had received a 
letter from Francis Cabot soliciting an agency for the purchase 
of materials. They had declined to employ him at the time 
owing to the unfavorable financial outlook but had later taken 
the matter up with him and on November 26, 1791, they voted 
the sum of one thousand dollars to send Mr. Cabot into the 
Eastern States for the purpose of informing himself minutely of 
the terms on which men and materials might be obtained. Mr. 
Cabot was to report from time to time so that the Commission- 
ers might avail themselves of his information in making contracts. 

The item of tools was an important one. Apparently there 
were no large stocks of such articles which could be purchased 
for immediate delivery. Every thing had to be made under 
special contract. Wheelbarrows being needed for getting the 
clay out of the foundations with which to make brick for the 
buildings, the Commissioners on January 10, 1792, contracted 
with Henry Upperman for fifty to be delivered by March 1st at 
fifteen shillings apiece. On the 30th of March, the Commission- 
ers contracted with John Mountz for ten sledge hammers, five 
hundred wedges of different sizes, twenty picks and ten trim- 
ming hammers, "of the best iron and to be well steeled" for 
the sum of eleven pence current money per pound. They also 
contracted with Mountz for ten mattocks and six axes of the 
best quality for ten shillings each. 

On April 14, Captain Elisha Williams was directed to 
purchase thirty or forty thousand feet of lumber at not over 
one dollar per thousand and to build a lumber yard for storing 
it. In preparation for working the quarries at Aquia, Captain 
Williams was directed on March 15, to go down to the quarries 
and engage persons to erect four huts for the accommodation of 
the workmen. On April 10, an agreement was entered into 
with William Wright of Alexandria to act as superintendent of 
the stone quarry on Higginton Island, "the men to be found 
provisions by the Commrs., that is one pound good pork or 
one pound and a half of beef and one pound of flour per day 
all days included. ' ' 

In addition to the working of the Aquia quarries, the Com- 



History of the City of Washington. 181 

missioners made several private contracts. On October 21, 
1791, they contracted with Philip R. Fendall and Lewis Hipkins 
for 4,000 perches of foundation stone. On June 6, 1792, they 
contracted with William Smith for four hundred perches of 
foundation stone, and on December 10, 1792, with John Mason 
for three thousand perches. On March 22, 1793, finding the 
deliveries from the quarry which they had purchased at Aquia 
Creek not sufficient for their needs, they signed leases with 
John Gibson for stone land adjoining the quarry. The deliver- 
ies of stone still continuing unsatisfactory the Commissioners 
on July 30, 1794, contracted with James Smith and John Dunbar 
for its delivery at the rate of four dollars per ton for freestone 
and three and two-thirds dollars per ton for Ashler. To facilitate 
matters John Watson, one of the foremen on the work in the 
city, was directed to work part of his hands at the quarry and 
"to increase the amount of liquor in extraordinary cases at his 
discretion. ' ' 

In 1793, the Commissioners discovered that an extensive 
bed of foundation stone existed at the "Key of all Keys," and 
thereafter a large quantity of this material was obtained from 
that source. 

On September 24, 1791, the Commissioners instructed Major 
L 'Enfant to employ one hundred and fifty laborers to throw 
up clay at the President's House and the House of Congress in 
anticipation of brick-making the following summer. This order, 
it will be recalled, was the occasion of one of the quarrels 
between the Major and the Commissioners. On May 3d, 1792, 
the Commissioners entered into contracts with William Hill and 
Anthony Hoke for the manufacture of 1,100,000 bricks of 
statutory size near the site of the President's House, the Com- 
missioners to furnish the clay already dug. 

The matter of lime was for a time a subject for concern to 
the Commissioners. Mr. Cabot and others with whom they were in 
communication were requested to make special inquiries in the 
east with reference to this commodity. A source of supply, was, 
however, soon discovered to exist in the vicinity of Frederick, 
Maryland, and on May 4, 1792, Commissioner Johnson was 



182 History of the City of Washington. 

requested to arrange with the lime burners in that neighborhood 
for the delivery of a quantity of unslackened lime. A quantity 
of oyster shells were at one time purchased for making poorer 
grades of lime but did not prove satisfactory. 

The heavy timbers of white oak and yellow poplar, twenty 
to thirty-five feet long and squaring fifteen inches, for use in 
the construction of the Capitol and President's House were 
acquired from the White Oak Swamp in Westmoreland County, 
Virginia, through the good offices of Mr. William Augustine 
Washington, who assisted in negotiating the purchase of the 
timber. It was rafted up the river from Monroe Creek. 

The procuring of skilled workmen was a subject of probably 
even greater concern to the Commissioners than that of obtain- 
ing materials, though common labor was not hard to obtain, as 
many of the residents of both Maryland and Virginia were glad 
of the opportunity of hiring their slaves to the Commissioners. 
The chief difficulty was to find masons, stone-cutters and carpen- 
ters. 

Major L 'Enfant and Major Ellicott had been instructed on 
October 6, 1791, to have several huts erected for the accommoda- 
tion of the workmen. On April 13, 1792, the Commissioners 
resolved to hire good laboring negroes by the year, the masters 
clothing them well and finding each a blanket, the Commission- 
ers finding them provisions and paying them twenty-one pounds 
a year wages. They stipulated that if the negroes absented them- 
selves a week or more such time would be deducted. On Decem- 
ber 3, 1792, they authorized Mr. Brent to hire for work on the 
quarries twenty-five able bodied negro men slaves at a price not 
exceeding fifteen pounds, Virginia currency per year, feeding 
and clothing. On October 16, 1794, they advertised for a num- 
ber of slaves to work in the brick-yards, stone-quarries, etc., for 
which generous wages would be given, and on December 3, 
1794, Captain Williams was requested to obtain one hundred 
negro men at sixty dollars a year, findings and provisions, the 
masters to clothe well and find each a blanket, the same provision 
as before with respect to deduction in pay to apply in case the 
negroes should absent themselves a week or more. 



History of the City of Washington. 183 

To obtain such skilled labor as stone-cutters, brick-layers, 
masons and carpenters the Commissioners at first looked to the 
Eastern States. Mr. Cabot was instructed to look out for 
workmen of this character, particularly brick-makers in Phila- 
delphia. On September 4, 1792, the Commissioners gave notice 
that they were desirous of engaging masons who could also work 
in brick, and that those who cut stone would have employment 
immediately and during the winter, applications to be made to 
Mr. Colin Williamson who was Superintendent of the mason 
work. On December 5, 1792, they announced that they wished 
to employ four sets of sawyers immediately, one set to be well 
acquainted with the sawing of mahogany. 

It had become apparent, however, before this that the supply 
of such labor would be hard to fill, and the question of import- 
ing foreign labor was taken up. Accordingly on July 5, 1792, 
the Commissioners published an offer to pay the passages of 
not exceeding one hundred Scotch stone-cutters, masons and 
other mechanics. 

This publication proving barren of results the President 
wrote to the Commissioners on December 18, 1792 : 

' ' Your letter to the Secretary of State dated if I recollect 
rightly the 5th instant intimating among other things that 
you had failed in an attempt which had been made to 
import workmen from Scotland, equally with that for obtain- 
ing them from Holland, fills me with real concern ; for I am 
very apprehensive if your next campaign in the Federal City 
is not marked with vigor, it will cast such a cloud over 
this business and will so arm the enemies of the measure, 
as to enable them to give it (if not its death blow) a wound 
from which it will not easily recover. 

"The more I consider the subject, the more I am con- 
vinced of the expediency of importing a number of workmen 
from Europe to be employed in the Federal City. The 
measure has not only economy to recommend it, but is 
important by placing the quantity of labor which may be 
performed by such persons upon a certainty for the term 
for which they should be engaged. 

"Upon the whole it will readily be perceived in what a 
serious light I consider delay in the progress of the public 
buildings, and how anxious I am to have them pushed 



184 History of the City of Washington. 

forward. In a word, the next is the year that will give 
the tone to the City, — if marked with energy, individuals 
will be inspirited, — the sales will be enhanced — confidence 
diffused and emulation created. Without it I should not 
be surprised to find the Lots unsaleable, and everything at 
a stand. ' ' 

In response to this urgent request from the President the 
Commissioners decided to make their offer more attractive, agree- 
ing to advance the passage money, to provide for the transporta- 
tion of the men's wives and to give assurances of their social 
standing on arrival and some idea of the steadiness of their 
employment and of the wages to be paid. Accordingly on 
January 3, 1793, they published the following "Terms for 
Mechanicks." 

"The Commissioners will advance in Europe as far as 
thirty shillings Sterling each for expenses there so that they 
may by laying it out prudently be the more comfortably 
accommodated. The Commissioners will also pay them money 
on their arrival. In some instances, the fewer the better, it 
may be necessary and the Commissioners will make the ad- 
vance for the wife. The mechanic to be allowed the same 
wages as there is of the same qualifications now in the Coun- 
try. Their wages as in other places will fluctuate on circum- 
stances though not in greater degree ; and from what must 
happen, the expenditure of 2,000,000 of Dollars in the 
course of eight years there's no probability of any consider- 
able decline of wages. At present stone-cutters and good 
masons have from 4/6 to 5 Stirling for their actual working- 
time by time book. There 's no idea of considering mechanics 
in any other light than the respectable of our own Country. 
They will draw one-half of their wages weekly and the 
other half to be retained till the advance and passage money 
is satisfied. Stone-cutters in the different branches are most 
wanted, masons and brick-layers are also though not so 
much wanted. Those who pay their own passage will be 
immediately employed at the same time rate given to such 
workmen in the Country." 

Mr. Jefferson interested himself actively in the solution of 
this problem. He had previously imported a number of German 
tenants through a firm in Amsterdam to whom on his recom- 
mendation the Commissioners wrote stating their needs. Through 
a contractor in Philadelphia, Mr. Jefferson was able to put the 



History of the City of Washington. 185 

Commissioners in touch with an agent of the latter in Scotland 
who had sent numbers of workmen to America, and to this agent 
also the Commissioners applied. They further addressed a 
memorial to the municipality of Bordeaux through the medium- 
ship of a Mr. Fenwick. 

The Amsterdam firm replied that they had in past experi- 
enced so much trouble as the result of their efforts to send 
immigrants to America that they were compelled to decline the 
undertaking. The Scotch correspondent replied that the demand 
for such workmen in Scotland and England was at that time so 
heavy that it would be impossible to send any to America. Mr. 
Fenwick wrote from Bordeaux that the laws against emigration, 
resulting from the war in which France was engaged, would 
make it impossible to secure any workmen from that country. 

The Commissioners were, therefore, compelled to look to the 
American cities for their workmen, and it was from this source 
that the greater part were eventually procured, largely through 
the efforts of Mr. Colin Williamson, the Superintendent of the 
workmen at the Capitol. 

On February 8, 1793, the Commissioners, on Mr. William- 
son's request, agreed with Mr. Hunter, one of the masons who 
was about to go to Philadelphia for his wife, to pay Mr. Hunter 
one day's wages for each good mason, not exceeding twenty in 
all, approved by Mr. Williamson, who should come on Mr. 
Hunter's recommendation; agreeing also that the workmen 
should be entitled to their wages while coming, provided they 
should be approved on arrival. 

To accommodate the workmen, the Commissioners allowed 
them to build temporary frame dwellings; and later the Com- 
missioners themselves erected a number of temporary brick 
houses, two stories high, for this purpose. Evidently some of 
the workmen were accompanied with families, for in October, 
1793, the Commissioners gave permission for the erection of a 
temporary school building on one of the public lots. For the 
accommodation of the sick, Mr. Hoban was directed on December 
24, 1793, to erect a temporary hospital on some of the public 
squares near a good spring; and on January 10, 1794, the Com- 



186 History of the City of Washington. 

missioners appointed Dr. John Crocker physician to attend the 
laborers, about forty-six in number, employed by them in the 
city, at a salary of twenty-five pounds per year. The following 
April, Mr. Hoban was directed to select some public grounds 
in the City suitable for a burying ground. 

The Commissioners were not free from the troubles which 
attend nearly all large employers of labor. The most serious 
occurred as the result of some conflict of authority between Mr. 
Hoban and Mr. Williamson relative to the masonry work at the 
Capitol. The matter coming to the attention of Col. Stoddert, 
he on May 26, 1794, wrote to Commissioner Carroll with a view 
to preventing the spread of the disaffection of the workmen. In 
the course of his recital of the occurence he says : 

"Twelve or fifteen of the masons employed in the City, 
have already gone off in very great disgust in consequence 
of some late change in the manner of conducting the work 
and twenty some odd more are going. These men wherever 
they go, spread disaffection to the City among the mechanics, 
and it will be found very difficult, if not impossible to get 
Tradesmen to carry on the business. The Tradesmen who 
arrived at Norfolk destined for the City, have stopped on 
their way, some at Alex, and some at other places — some 
who have come to the City have gone back. Those men who 
went off a few days ago, have already published in the 
Bait, paper a warning to Tradesmen how they came to 
the City, where they represent the usage as very bad." 
The account of the public work undertaken by the first 
Commissioners would be incomplete without some reference to 
two other projects to which they directed their attention: viz., 
the Canal and the Rock Creek Bridge. 

In September, 1792, a canal between tidewater on James 
Creek and tidewater on Goose Creek, twelve feet wide at the 
bottom and fifteen feet wide at the top, the bottom to be two 
feet below common level water, was projected to facilitate the 
drainage of the lower parts of the city. Its completion for 
purposes of navigation was not undertaken until a number of 
1 years later when it became the subject of private enterprise. 

The construction of a bridge over Rock Creek near its mouth 
together with a causeway along the bank of the river above the 



History of the City of Washington. 187 

bridge, was thought of sufficient importance to justify the Com- 
missioners in undertaking it as a matter relating to the interests 
of the city, and a contract therefor made on March 29, 1792. 

In September, 1794, the bridge proved so unsafe that it 
became necessary to rebuild it. 

Almost immediately on effecting their organization, the 
Commissioners took steps, looking to the realization of funds 
with which to carry on their operations. Congress had made 
no appropriation for this purpose. An attempt to include an 
appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars in the Residence 
Law had been voted down in the Senate the day before the final 
passage of the act by that body. 

The only sources to which the Co mmi ssioners could look 
for immediate funds were the grants which had been voted by 
the States of Maryland and Virginia. The Maryland legislature 
had by a resolution adopted on the tenth day of December, 1789, 
agreed to advance the sum of $72,000, payable in three annual 
instalments. The State of Virginia had on December 27, 1790, 
voted a grant of $120,000, also payable in three annual instal- 
ments. 

When in Richmond in the course of his southern trip the 
President had consulted with Governor Beverly Randolph of 
Virginia with a view to obtaining part of the Virginia grant 
for immediate use. The Virginia treasury was at the time prac- 
tically empty, but Governor Randolph made arrangements to let 
the Commissioners have one thousand dollars at once on the order 
which the President had already drawn for the first instalment 
of $40,000, and wrote to Dr. Stuart on April 15, 1791, suggest- 
ing to the Commissioners to obtain an order from John Hopkins, 
the State Commissioner of Loans, upon the Collector of Alexan- 
dria. Accordingly, the Commissioners on May 9th, drew on the 
auditor of Public Accounts of Virginia for one thousand dollars 
in favor of their Treasurer, William Deakins — this being the 
first money which came into their hands. The Commissioners 
also promptly applied to Thomas Harwood, the Treasurer of 
the Western Shore of Maryland, who had the custody of the 
fund from which the Maryland grant was to be paid, asking him 



188 History of the City of Washington. 

to pay all or part of the first instalment on the grant from that 
State, in advance of the 1st of January, 1792, the date fixed by 
law for the payment. Although the Executive Council of Mary- 
land recommended compliance with this request, and the full 
amount of £9,000 or $24,000 was on hand, the Treasurer of the 
Western Shore declined to pay it over until the date fixed by 
law. In the meantime the Commissioners obtained six thousand 
dollars more from Virginia; and with this sum, reinforced by 
their personal credit and that of their Treasurer, Col. Deakins, 
they managed to tide over the summer, finding it necessary, how- 
ever, to decline entering into a number of important engagements 
respecting the public works. In an early communication they 
advised the President that on a rough estimate they expected to 
have to pay between five and six thousand dollars in October, 
not including Major L 'Enfant 's compensation. 

The financial problem continued to be at all times a serious 
one with the Commissioners. Although instalments of the Mary- 
land donation, subsequent to the first, were paid considerably 
in advance of the dates originally intended, the instalments of 
the Virginia Donation were very tardy and only collected piece- 
meal and after repeated importunings from the Commissioners 
not only to the Executive but to the Legislature of that State. 
An idea of the embarrassment caused by the tardiness with 
which the Virginia payments were made is furnished by the 
following letter from the Commissioners to Governor Henry 
Lee of that State, which is typical of many which the Commis- 
sioners were compelled to send. On September 23, 1793, they 
said : 

"It is with regret we feel ourselves under the necessity 
of applying to you again on the subject of the Virginia 
Donation. Our situation makes it proper for us to tell 
you frankly that we shall not be able to carry on the public 
buildings unless we can soon have what is behind of the last 
sum, the receipt of which we made ourselves certain of long 
before this time. We entreat Sir, that the executive may 
take effectual measures to throw the balance into our Hands 
for there's no calculating the injury to the Business 
should we unhappily be obliged to delay the payment of 
any just demand. The last sum will be wanted punctually 



History of the City of Washington. 189 

and we assure ourselves that you will urge to the assembly 
of Virginia, the propriety of an early and adequate provis- 
ion." 

Early in 1792, Mr. Blodget had proposed a plan for placing 
a half million dollar loan upon the lots in the City owned by 
the public; the loan to be made in instalments of $50,000 each; 
and the Commissioners had in April of that year gone as far as 
to execute five hundred notes to cover the first instalment, when 
their hopes were disappointed by a serious financial crash in 
Boston, New York and Philadelphia, resulting from the failure 
of a Mr. Duer. Mr. Blodget furnished $8,000, and disposed of 
$2,000 more, but further attempts to push the project were at 
first postponed until the fall and finally abandoned entirely. 

The funds derived from the sales of lots did little to rein- 
force the Maryland and Virginia grants. The sales up to the 
time of entering into the Greenleaf contract on September 23, 
1793, hereinafter mentioned, were not of any considerable extent, 
and buyers in the majority of instances were very slow in meet- 
ing the deferred payments on their purchases. 

In October, 1793, the President, at the request of the Com- 
missioners for an auditing of their accounts, appointed Col. 
Robert Townsend Hooe of Alexandria, and David Ross of 
Bladensburg, for the purpose. In their report dated October 
31, 1793, they state that the Commissioners were chargeable to 
that date with £30,000 ($80,000) from Virginia, £27,000 
($72,000) from Maryland, £6,005 ($16,000) from lots and other 
articles sold; that their expenditures were £50,502, leaving a 
nominal balance on hand of £12,503 of which £5,760 was a 
balance on an order made on Virginia but not yet actually 
received. 

On April 22, 1794, shortly before Mr. Johnson and Doctor 
Stuart went out of office as Commissioners, Col. Deakins, the 
Treasurer to the Board, furnished them with the following state- 
ment of the financial condition and prospects of the city at a 
time when the only actual funds in sight consisted of the then 
long overdue third instalment of $40,000 of the Virginia Grant. 
Col. Deakins says : 

"All the money that had been lodged in the Treasury 



190 History of the City of Washington. 

was expended about the first of February last. Since 

then I have been obliged to have recourse to the Bank of 
Maryland and the Office of Discount and Deposite at Balti- 
more. The 1st February I had my notes discounted there 
for 8000 Dollars at 60 days. These notes were taken up 
the 1st April by further discount of my notes for an 
equal sum at 60 days which notes will grow due and must 
be taken up the 1st of June next. These 8000 Dollars are 
now expended and I am in Advance about 2000 Dollars and 
must again have recourse to the Banks for immediate 
demands. 

' ' I have laid before you Mr. John Hopkin 's letter respect- 
ing the President's Order on the Executive of Virginia 
for 40,000 Dollars due the first of January last, from which 
you will find, we can have no well grounded hopes of receiv- 
ing any part of that Order in all the present year. 

"From a Moderate Calculation, I suppose your Expendi- 
tures during the Summer and Fall will not be less than 
10,000 Dollars P month (exclusive of your contracts for 
Timber, Mahogany, &c, and you can best judge what sum 
will be wanted for those Objects. 

"The following payments if made into the Treasury, 
may answer the Demands for the Monthly expenditures, say 

"The first payment 1st May, next to pay what may then 
be due and for the expenditures in that month 14,000. 

"2nd payment, 1st June 8000 Dollars to take up my 
Notes in Bank then due and the further Sum of 10,000 
Dollars for the Expenditures in that Mo 18,000. 

"For the Months of July, Augt., Septr., October and 
Novr., 10,000 P Month 50,000. 

during the Winter Months the Expenditures will be reduced, 
and funds may then be expected from the order on the 
Executive of Virginia. All the Delinquents for the Lotts 
purchased at public sale have been "Wrote to but few or 
none of them have yet come forward to make the payments. 
You will consider what had best be done to Compel pay- 
ment." 
The Maryland Legislature on December 28, 1793, passed an 

act authorizing Samuel Blodget, Jr., William Deakins, Jr., Uriah 
Forrest, John Mason, James Maccubbin Lingan, Francis 
Lowndes, Marsham Warring, Peter Cassanave, William Burrell 
Magruder, Joseph Forrest, Thomas Peter, John Templeman and 
Benjamin Stoddert, to open subscriptions for ten thousand 
shares of stock in a bank, at one hundred dollars per share. 



History of tJte City of Washington. 191 

Under authority of this act the Bank of Columbia was estab- 
lished in Georgetown, and the Commissioners under authority 
of the act subscribed one thousand dollars of the stock, in the 
expectation of being thus enabled to obtain loans of moderate 
amounts as need from time to time. 

On September 23, 1793, the Commissioners contracted with 
Mr. James Greenleaf of New York, to sell him three thousand 
lots at the price of £25 per lot to be paid in seven annual 
instalments beginning May 1, 1794. By the terms of this con- 
tract Mr. Greenleaf was to erect ten houses two stories high 
each year. He was to make no sale prior to January 1, 1796, 
without stipulating that on every third lot purchased of him 
a house should be built within four years from the date of sale. 
Greenleaf further agreed that if so required by the Commission- 
ers, he would lend them one thousand pounds Maryland currency, 
each month until the completion of the public buildings, but 
not later than January 1, 1800. For the purpose of securing 
the loans they were to set apart by way of mortgage one lot for 
each £25 advanced by Greenleaf. Shortly after this Mr. Robert 
Morris agreed to join with Greenleaf in the speculation and 
gave the latter authority to contract with the Commissioners for 
a like number of lots. Greenleaf contracted on Morris' behalf 
for three thousand lots at thirty-five pounds each with similar 
building requirements to those in the Greenleaf contract. These 
two contracts were on December 24, 1793, merged in a single 
contract between the Commissioners on the one hand, and Morris 
and Greenleaf on the other, for six thousand lots, stipulated to 
average 5,265 square feet in area, at thirty pounds each ; in all, 
one hundred and eighty thousand pounds Maryland currency 
($480,000), in seven annual payments to begin May 1, 1794. 

Morris and Greenleaf agreed to build twenty two-story brick 
houses each year until one hundred and forty houses should be 
built, the same to conform to the building regulations of the city. 
The same provision was included, as in the Greenleaf contract, 
relative to sales by Morris and Greenleaf. It was stipulated 
that four thousand five hundred of the lots should be southwest 
of Massachusetts Avenue and the remaining fifteen hundred to 



192 History of the City of Washington. 

the northeast thereof. A number of provisions limited the loca- 
tions from which the lots could be selected and the manner of 
selecting them. Everything relating to a loan in the original 
Greenleaf contract was referred to a new contract with Green- 
leaf. John Nicholson was associated in this enterprise as a silent 
partner with Morris and Greenleaf. 

On July 9, 1794, the Commissioners, pursuant to an agree- 
ment that day entered into by them with Greenleaf for the 
purpose of facilitating a loan for which he was negotiating in 
Holland, issued certificates to him for three thousand lots to 
be used by Greenleaf as security for the loan. The amount for 
which Greenleaf was negotiating was three hundred thousand 
pounds Maryland currency, ($800,000), and the arrangement 
between Greenleaf and the Commissioners was that the city was 
to receive one-third of this amount. This was one of the last acts 
of the original Board of Commissioners. The transactions grow- 
ing out of this contract play a prominent part in the early 
history of the city and will be set forth as part of the history 
of the administrations of the succeeding Commissioners. 



CHAPTER V. 



Conclusion of the Establishment Period. 

OWARDS the close of the year 1793 it became evident 
II that a due attention to the affairs of the city demanded 
^■^ that the Commissioners should reside close to the scene 
of operations. Commissioners Johnson and Stuart were unwill- 
ing to remove to Georgetown. The former, moreover, was 
desirous of entering into business ventures largely in connection 
with real estate in the new city, and such an undertaking he 
considered as incompatible with his capacity as Commissioner. 
In the fall of 1793, the Commissioners advised Mr. Blodget 
that Mr. Johnson and Doctor Stuart were continuing in office 
solely for the purpose of closing up the affairs of the Hotel lot- 
tery. The last meetings of the old Board, with Commissioners 
Carroll and Stuart present, were held from July 27 to 31, 1794, 
from which date an adjournment was taken to September 15. 
During this interim the President appointed in the places of 
Commissioners Johnson and Stuart, Gustavus Scott of Baltimore 
and Doctor William Thornton, of Philadelphia. Mr. Scott's 
commission was dated August 23, 1794; Doctor Thornton's, 
September 12, 1794. 

Gustavus Scott was born in Prince William County, Virgin- 
ia, and educated at King's College, Aberdeen, Scotland. When 
his friend, Sir Robert Eden, was appointed Royal Governor of 
Maryland he removed to that province and entered upon the 
practice of law in Somerset County. He was a delegate to the 
Maryland Convention of 1774, 1780 and 1784. He also had been 
a member of the association of the freemen of Maryland who 
signed the pledge in 1775 to throw off the proprietary authority 
and assume a provisional government. In 1784 he was elected 



194 History of the City of Washington. 

a delegate to Congress, serving only one term. He was one of 
the organizers of the Potowmaek Company. 

William Thornton was born at Tortola, "West Indies, and 
was educated as a physician. He lived for many years in 
Philadelphia and held a high position in scientific circles. His 
taste for architecture had been demonstrated in his design for 
the Philadelphia library building in 1790. As the designer of 
the Capitol he was thought to be specially fitted for membership 
on the Commission, one of the chief duties of which was to bring 
about the completion of that building. After the abolishment 
of the Commission he was appointed first Superintendent of the 
Patent Office and served in that capacity until his death in 1827. 

The first meeting of the new Board was held September 15, 
1794, with Mr. Carroll and Mr. Scott present. Doctor Thornton 
joined the Board the following day, Mr. Carroll continued on 
the Board until May 21, 1795. He was succeeded by Alexander 
White of Virginia whose commission bore date May 18, 1795. 

Mr. White was born in Rappahannock County, Virginia, in 
1738. He took an active part in the political agitation which 
preceded the Revolution, being noted for his eloquence and 
patriotism. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress 
from 1786 to 1788 and also to the first and second Congresses 
of the United States. It was he to whom Mr. Jefferson, in the 
passage from his Ana previously quoted, refers as having 
reluctantly voted in favor of the Funding Bill in order to make 
possible the adoption of the site on the Potomac for the federal 
seat. Mr. White was one of the directors of the Potowmaek 
Company. At the time of his appointment, his home was at 
Woodville, near Winchester, Virginia, where he died in 1804. 

The salaries of the Commissioners under the new arrange- 
ment were raised to $1600 per year in recognition of the fact 
that their entire time was to be devoted to the city's affairs. 
Mr. Thomas Johnson, Jr., a nephew of the former Commissioner 
Johnson, who had succeeded Mr. Gantt, continued for some time 
as Secretary to the Board and was succeeded by Mr. Thomas 
Munroe. On July 28, 1796, the Commissioners abolished the 
office of Treasurer on the ground that the continued presence of 



History of the City of Washington. 195 

the members of the Commission at the scene of operations 
rendered the office no longer necessary. 

At the time the new Board came into office the Chief 
Surveyor was Thomas Freeman. In May, 1796, Mr. Freeman 
was appointed by President "Washington to run the line between 
the territory of the United States and Spain. His place was 
taken by Mr. Dermott. On January 3, 1798, the Board resolved 
that they had no further occasion for the services of Mr. Dermott. 
"What the cause of this action was does not appear, though a 
letter from Dermott 's successor Nicholas King to the President 
some years later recites that it was for misconduct. 

Commissioner Scott died on Christmas day, 1800, and on 
January 14, 1801, his successor, "William Cranch, presented his 
Commission and took his place on the Board. Mr. Cranch was 
born in "Weymouth, Massachusetts, in 1769. After practicing 
law three years in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, he came 
to Washington in 1793 as the agent of James Greenleaf. He 
resigned his Commission on March 3d, 1801, after serving six 
weeks on the Board, to accept an appointment as one of the 
judges of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, of which 
he became Chief Justice in 1805, serving in that capacity until 
h'is death in 1855. 

Mr. Cranch was succeeded on March 10, 1801, by Tristram 
Dalton. Mr. Dalton was born in Newburg, Massachusetts, in 
1738. He was an ardent patriot, a delegate to the convention 
of committees of the New England provinces whicli met at 
Providence in 1776, a member of the Massachusetts Legislature, 
and a short term Senator from Massachusetts in the first Con- 
gress of the United States. He died in Boston in 1817. 

"With the coming into office of the new Commissioners a 
noticeable change took place, not only in the manner of adminis- 
tering the affairs of the federal establishment, but in the matters 
to which the activities of the Commissioners were directed. 

The first Commissioners had been the pioneers in the work 
of establishing the new city and their term was characterized by 
those struggles with primitive conditions whicli are the inevitable 
incidents to all pioneering endeavor. To them had belonged the 



196 History of the City of Washington. 

task of devising ways and means and inventing methods for 
carrying on a work which not only was without precedent at 
the time they were called upon to perform it, but stands today 
as unique among the achievements of men. The work of the 
succeeding Boards, so far as their administrative functions were 
concerned, consisted mainly in carrying out what the original 
Board had begun. 

In another field, however, their task was far heavier and 
involved exertions and responsibilities of a character and magni- 
tude which were unknown to the members of the original Board. 
The latter, despite the disappointments which they met in their 
efforts to raise money from sales of lots, had been able to carry 
on their work with the funds provided in the Maryland and 
Virginia donations. But these resources had, with the excep- 
tion of the last installment of the Virginia donation, been 
exhausted by the time the new Commissioners came into office. 
Their task involved, therefore, not only the carrying out of the 
work which had been started, but the procuring of the money 
with which to do it. How desperate the city's affairs at that 
time were ; how intimately they were involved with matters of 
national and even international consequence ; and at what labor 
and devotion on the part of the Commissioners they were rescued 
and continued to a successful outcome, are matters which have 
passed largely into oblivion. If, as is sincerely believed, the 
memories of Commissioners Carroll, Johnson and Stuart are 
entitled to perpetuation because of the work which they per- 
formed in organizing and setting in motion the work of establish- 
ing the city, no less a debt is due to Gustavus Scott, William 
Thornton and Alexander White whose exertions preserved and 
made effective the results of their predecessors' labor. 

An important circumstance attending the appointment of 
the new Commissioners was the fact that by the terms of their 
appointment they were required to remove to Georgetown. In 
consequence of their residence at Georgetown it was possible for 
the Commissioners to meet as often as the business demanded. 
On February 18, 1795, they announced that after the 20th day 
of March they would sit three times each week and as much 



History of the City of Washington. 197 

oftener as the business might require. From recitals in their 
correspondence it is apparent that practically all their time not 
given to meetings was taken up with other matters connected 
with the affairs of the city. 

One of the first measures entered upon by the new Board 
was the collection of the final installment of the Virginia dona- 
tion. This installment, amounting to $40,000, was then practically 
a year overdue, owing largely to the expense of guarding her 
frontiers from the Indians. Finally, in response to the repeated 
applications of the Commissioners, Mr. John Hopkins, the officer 
having charge of the collection of the State revenue, wrote on 
January 21, 1795, proposing to endeavor to obtain $14,000 from 
sales of the State's western lands and $10,000 from the sale of 
three hundred hogsheads of tobacco then in the treasury, for a 
commission of three per cent of the money obtained. The Com- 
missioners were reluctant to lose the three per cent but finally 
consented to the proposition only because of their extreme need 
of money. 

The next active step taken by the Commissioners looking to 
the procuring of funds was to send Doctor Thornton to Phila- 
delphia in February of 1795, in conformity with a request of 
President Washington, for the purpose of endeavoring to negoti- 
ate a loan based upon the public property. Mr. Greenleaf had 
attempted to place a loan both in this country and in Holland 
upon the property which had been conveyed to him by the Com- 
missioners for that purpose. His efforts in this country had been 
futile and the Commissioners had withdrawn from the plan of 
attempting to affect a joint negotiation. 

Dr. Thornton sounded all the financial institutions of Phila- 
delphia without success and after conference with the President 
and Mr. Randolph, the Secretary of State, it was decided to 
apply to the English financiers. Accordingly on March 20, 1795, 
a power of attorney, for this purpose was sent to four Americans 
then in England, William Allen Dear, Samuel Bayard, Joshua 
Johnson and William Murdoch. These gentlemen or any two or 
three of them, were authorized to negotiate a loan to the extent 
of £300,000 Sterling. At this period the Napoleonic wars were 



198 History of the City of Washington. 

taxing the financial resources of all Europe to the limit, and 
funds were not available for investments of any character. 

Pending the outcome of these applications, the operations 
of the Commissioners were seriously handicapped by the lack 
of funds. They were aided to some extent by the Bank of 
Columbia which advanced to them upon the personal notes of 
themselves and their Treasurer, Colonel Deakins, sufficient for 
indispensable expenditures, but at the close of the season of 
1795 the outlook was little short of hopeless. 

On September 27, 1795, the Commissioners wrote to Presi- 
dent Washington : 

"We see with equal indignation and grief the hour 
approaching fast when all our Operations must cease for 
want of a f ew thousand Dollars ; this too when every material 
is collected and the season is most favorable for the rapid 
progression of the works. We are Daily in session exerting 
our best endeavors tho' hitherto in vain to form some prob- 
able scheme to raise thirty or forty thousand Dollars to 
continue the Operations on the public buildings till the 
middle of December. The various expedients Have been 
discussed, nothing bearing the Appearance of efficiency has 
Occurred. ' ' 
The continuation of the work through the fall of that year 

was made possible by the sacrifice of the stock held by the Com- 
missioners in the Bank of Columbia. 

It was at about this time that a suggestion, which ultimately 
proved to contain the solution of their difficulties, was made to 
the Commissioners by Colonel Forrest, one of the proprietors of 
the land embraced in the city, who was a member of the Mary- 
land Legislature, and who had at all times interested himself 
actively in the city's affairs. On October 24, 1795, Colonel 
Forrest wrote to the Commissioners that he had suggested to a 
number of influential members of the Maryland Legislature the 
possibility of a loan of $200,000 of the United States six per cent 
stock held by the State of Maryland. This was the stock which 
the Federal Government had issued to the several states when it 
assumed the payment of their expenditures in connection with 
the Revolutionary War. It will be remembered that it was in 
return for the southern votes in favor of the law providing for 



History of the City of Washington. 199 

this assumption that the northern members of Congress had 
agreed to vote for the placing of the federal seat on the Poto- 
mac River. 

The United States stock held by the State of Maryland was 
paying that State $25,000 annually in interest, sufficient to meet 
all of its ordinary administrative expenses. Colonel Forrest 
wrote that he had convinced those with whom he had spoken 
that it was the same thing to the State of Maryland whether it 
received the interest payments on this stock from the general 
Government or from the City of Washington, and gave it as 
his opinion that an application for a loan of a portion of this 
stock would meet with success. It developed, however, that a 
sufficient number of the members of the Legislature could not 
be convinced of the safety of such an investment of the State's 
funds with no other security than the public property in the 
City of Washington, the sales of which had thus far proved 
anything but encouraging. 

Nothing remained but an appeal to Congress. This was a 
project which had been delayed as a last resort, and which was 
now determined upon with reluctance and doubt. As has already 
been mentioned, Congress had refused to make any appropria- 
tion at the time of the passage of the act fixing upon the 
Potomac as the site of the Federal City; and at that time the 
friends of the Potomac had given repeated assurances that the 
national Government would not be called upon for financial aid. 
To go to Congress now and ask for money was, therefore, a most 
unpleasant task for the Commissioners. Commissioner White, 
by reason of his former service and extensive acquaintance in 
Congress, was selected for the duty. 

It may with much reason be said that upon the success or 
failure of Mr. White's efforts, at the time he accepted this 
responsibility, rested the fate of the new city. Unless help could 
be obtained from Congress it was not perceived then, nor is it 
apparent in the light of present available sources of information, 
whence the funds necessary for completing the public buildings 
were to be obtained. A suspension of the work meant the procla- 
mation of the entire enterprise as a failure; and such an event 



200 History of the City of Washington. 

would have been a strong inducement to Congress to declare an 
abandonment of the entire project. 

Mr. White left for Philadelphia about the first of December, 

1795. Two alternative lines of action appear to have been 
decided on : one, an application for an appropriation of money, 
either outright or by way of a loan ; the other an application for 
an act guaranteeing a loan to be obtained elsewhere. From the 
time of his arrival at Philadelphia early in December, 1795, 
until the final passage of the so-called Guarantee Law on May 
6, 1796, five months later, Mr. White was engaged unceasingly 
in urging upon the members of Congress the propriety of grant- 
ing the aid he sought. Throughout this time he was in constant 
communication with his colleagues at Washington, advising 
them by nearly every post of the progress of affairs, and fre- 
quently calling on them for information regarding matters upon 
which he was mercilessly interrogated by the members of both 
houses of Congress. It is doubtful whether any other period 
or incident in connection with the establishment of the City of 
Washington is of more intensely dramatic interest than the 
experience of Mr. White and his colleagues as set forth in this 
correspondence, every letter of which breathes the alternating 
hopes and discouragements of the former and the suspense and 
anxiety of the latter. A month was spent in interviewing mem- 
bers of Congress, consulting the President and obtaining infor- 
mation upon matters as to which Mr. White wrote that he had 
foreseen he was "to be sifted like wheat." Finally, at the 
suggestion of President Washington, a memorial was signed by 
the Commissioners and forwarded to Congress on January 8, 

1796, with a short message from the President, in which he said 
among other things : 

"I have no doubt, if the remaining resources are properly 
cherished, so as to prevent the loss of property by hasty 
and numerous sales, that all the buildings required for the 
accommodation of the government of the United States may 
be completed in season without aid from the Federal Treas- 
ury. ' ' 

The result of this application was the appointment of a 
Committee by the House of Representatives which on January 



History of the City of Washington. 201 

18, reported in favor of guaranteeing a loan of $500,000; but 
many other matters of importance were claiming the attention 
of Congress and delayed its action. On February 19, Mr. White 
wrote : ' ' Monday is the President 's birthday when it is expected 
there will be a greater display of attachment than was ever yet 
exhibited on a similar occasion. * * * Report says that the 
British Treaty is arrived at Charleston on the General Pinckney 
— if so the course of the Post is expected to bring it to this city 
tomorrow — whether that circumstance will have any effect on the 
business, as some predict, time alone must determine." 

Many members of Congress were disposed to criticise the 
buildings; particularly the President's House, the extent and 
grandeur of which it was claimed were more in keeping with 
the idea of royalty than with that of American Republicanism ; 
and one of the duties imposed upon the House Committee was 
to determine whether or not any change should be made in the 
buildings. The fact that Mr. Jefferson, whose democratic prin- 
ciples and taste in architecture were even then famous, had 
approved the plan of the public buildings, was largely influential 
in reconciling Congress to what had been done. Many charges 
of extravagance and poor administration were made. 

On February 25, Mr. White wrote that the House of Repre- 
sentatives had recommitted the bill, adding: 

"But what shall I say when I am asked for an estimate 
of the expenses of the Capitol. What a Field for cavil and 
declamation when it can be said that the plan of such a 
Building was accepted without any knowledge of the costs? 
If an estimate tolerably accurate could be sent on, it might 
possibly answer some good purpose. Do not Jefferson's 
letters show that both Plans were examined and approved 
by him? That circumstance would shut the mouths of 
some." 

The attitude of the Committee towards the legislation of 
the State of Maryland, so far as it affected the titles to 
property conveyed under the deeds in trust and the security 
it would afford on a loan, proved a formidable obstacle. Alluding 
to this, Mr. White wrote : 

"I attended the Committee at 7 o'clock last night the 
Attorney General was present. After much conversation 



202 History of the City of Washington. 

they agreed to report a Bill, a rough copy of which is 
enclosed. I gave no information with respect to the title 
of the lots, but that the Trustees had never conveyed. Had 
I introduced the maze of Maryland Laws, we never should 
have got through them. They would certainly have been 
considered as void, and of no effect by a Committee who 
think that Congress cannot even direct the mode of execut- 
ing a Trust created by individuals for the use of the United 
States. How then could the Legislature of Maryland take 
the lots out of the hands of the President and Trustees and 
give the sole power over them to another body of men, viz, 
the Commissioners?" 

On March 31, 1796, the House of Representatives by a vote 
of 72 to 21 passed the bill guaranteeing a loan of $300,000, and 
the task of getting it through the Senate was begun. Here an 
unlooked for obstacle was met in the fact that the question of 
ratifying or rejecting the treaty with Great Britain, the arrival 
of which had previously been mentioned by Mr. White, was 
pending in the Senate. From Mr. White 's account it is probable 
that upon the fate of this treaty depended not only the fate of 
the City, but the continuance of the Union of the States. The 
actuality of this crisis can most effectively be gathered from Mr. 
White's own words. Writing under date of April 18, 1796, 
he says : 

"After writing you on Friday I waited on Mr. Henry to 
know what policy the Senate meant to pursue with respect 
to the Bill before them. He said he had proposed to Mr. 
King to report the Bill, but could not prevail on him to do 
it, and to report it against his will would occasion a quarrel 
which he wished to avoid, that he was of opinion that all 
the Members east of Maryland who were in favor of the 
Treaty would vote for postponing the Bill if it were reported 
till the event of the Treaty business was known, and if 
provision is not made for carrying it into effect, they would 
finally reject the Bill. On Saturday morning I waited on 
the President, he seemed rather disinclined to my leaving 
the City but said that it would be well to ascertain the real 
sentiments of Mr. King and other members of the Senate 
with respect to the Bill. * * * I waited on Mr. King, 
he avowed the Policy mentioned by Mr. Henry, he said he 
had no aversion to the measure, no objection to a City 
rising on the Potowmack, and the General Governments 



History of the City of Washington. 203 

removing thither, that he never would do anything to 
obstruct it, and that if harmony prevailed in the United 
States he should have no objection to promoting and encour- 
aging it, but that in his opinion, in the present state of 
things the bill ought not to be acted upon. That he did not 
expect this would influence the vote of any man or mean 
to use it in that way, but if the British Treaty should be 
rejected no matter by whom brought about, it would place 
us in such a state that he should think it improper to engage 
in any enterprise either of a public or private nature, or to 
pass any Laws except such as were necessary to keep up 
the form of the Government. In the evening I had a long 
conversation with Cabot of Massachusetts and Trumbull of 
Connecticut, they avowed the same sentiments with Mr. 
King. I consider them as really friendly to the measure as 
promotive of the interest of their States, but they declared 
they would not pass a Law which had the continuance of 
the Union for its sole basis during a Crisis which so seri- 
ously threatened its dissolution. Yesterday morning I 
mentioned the opinions of those gentlemen to Mr. Bradford 
of Rhode Island; he expressed his disapprobation in strong 
terms and said it was the first he had heard of it, and did 
not believe the sentiment prevailed in the Senate, that he 
would enquire and inform me. I then called on Mr. Fowler, 
his Colleague — he said he always approved of the Seat of 
Government being on the Potowmack, and thought it ought 
to be promoted by Government, but that the inevitable con- 
sequence of rejecting the Treaty with Great Britain would 
be a War with that nation ; that the Eastern States would 
not join in the War and to avoid it would separate from 
the Southern States, that he would acquaint himself with 
the sentiments of other members respecting the postpone- 
ment and inform me, but on looking over the list he con- 
cluded there was a majority for postponing the Bill." 

The treaty in question grew out of a treaty between the 
United States and certain Indian tribes which prohibited traders 
and hunters to reside with the Indians in this country without 
a license. This measure had grown out of the pernicious activi- 
ties of the Canadians and English in inciting the Indians to 
violence against the Americans. England considered it to be in 
violation of the provision contained in the treaty of peace of 
1784 securing free passage across the border to the citizens of 



204 History of the City of Washington. 

both nations. The new treaty bound the United States not to 
impede this right of free access by any further treaties with the 
Indians. The matter will hardly seem at this date to have 
justified so close an approach to war, but its seriousness at the 
time was manifested by a hostile attitude in the House of Rep- 
resentatives which passed a resolution requesting President 
"Washington to submit to that body the correspondence relating 
to the treaty, and threatened to prevent its passage. President 
[Washington in his reply, refusing compliance with this resolu- 
tion, laid down the principle which has never since been 
questioned that since the treaty making power is by the Constitu- 
tion confided to the President by and with the advice of the 
Senate, the House of Representatives is without authority to 
interfere. 

The treaty was ratified by the Senate on May 9, 1796. The 
removal of the opposition to the treaty in the House of Repre- 
sentatives by President "Washington's reply had made it possible 
to pass the Guarantee Bill through the Senate on May 6, by a 
vote of 16 to 7. 

This law authorized the Commissioners to borrow from 
time to time such sums as the President should direct, not exceed- 
ing three hundred thousand dollars in the whole, nor two 
hundred thousand in any one year, at not exceeding six per cent 
interest, reimbursable at any time after the year 1803 in install- 
ments not greater than one-fifth of the whole sum borrowed in 
any one year. All the unsold public lots in the city, except 
those appropriated for public use, were pledged as security for 
the money to be borrowed ; the deficiency, if any, after the sale 
of the lots, to be paid by the United States. 

The passage of this law, however, was only one step towards 
the solution of the difficulties of the Commissioners. The prob- 
lem now confronting them was where to obtain the money. 
Almost immediately following the passage of the law a power of 
attorney to procure a loan of five hundred and twelve thousand 
guilders in Holland was forwarded to the firm of "Wilhelm and 
Jan "Willink of Amsterdam, and in October brought the informa- 
tion that the French invasion of that country had resulted in the 



History of the City of Washington. 205 

levying upon all persons of a tax of one-sixth of their estates, 
both in that and in the preceding year, with the result that the 
loan sought would be impossible of negotiation at that time. 
Following the receipt of this information on October 31, 1796, 
an application for a loan of $100,000 was made to the Bank of 
the United States at Philadelphia, but that institution was averse 
to making long time loans and, moreover, was much taxed to 
accommodate its local patrons, and declined to make the loan. 

That the Commissioners were enabled to carry on their 
operations during that season was due to the accommodations 
granted by the Bank of Columbia. On July 22, an agreement 
was entered into between that bank and the Commissioners, 
reciting that the bank had already advanced $42,000 and that 
it undertook to advance $40,000 more in installments of $10,000 
per month, beginning August 1st. For the total sum of $82,000 
the Commissioners gave their personal short time notes endorsed 
by Robert Peter, Notley Young, Thomas Law, Uriah Forrest and 
Francis Loundes. 

Upon the refusal of their application to the Bank of the 
United States, the Commissioners again turned to the Legisla- 
ture of Maryland, and on November 21, 1796, they authorized 
Mr. Scott, whose acquaintance among the members of that body 
was large, to seek a loan from that State. President Washington 
at the same time wrote to Governor Stone in support of the 
Commissioners' application. Mr. Scott's efforts resulted in a 
resolution passed on December 14, 1796, authorizing the nominal 
loan of $100,000 of United States six per cent stock. By the act 
authorizing this loan, the Commissioners were required to 
give bond in their official capacity in the sum of $100,000, and 
in their individual capacities in twice that amount. 

Referring to the passage of this act President Washington 
on December 26, 1796, wrote to the Commissioners: ''The voice 
of Maryland as expressed by its Legislature, is flattering indeed, 
as it respects myself personally ; and highly pleasing as it relates 
to their federal sentiments." But, referring to the provision 
requiring the Commissioners to render themselves personally 
liable, he added: "At the same time I must confess that the 



206 History of the City of Washington. 

request has a very singular appearance and will not I should 
suppose be very gratifying to the feelings of Congress." 

Immediately on receiving the transfer of this stock the 
Commissioners sold $20,000 of it back to the State of Maryland 
for $16,583.33. Shortly after this they accepted a proposition 
from the Bank of Columbia to deposit the stock with that insti- 
tution and receive credit on its books against which on notice they 
might draw in amounts of between ten and twenty thousand 
dollars, the bank undertaking to dispose of the stock at the 
Philadelphia prices. About $84,000 was realized from this stock. 

At the close of the ensuing season (1797) the Commissioners 
found themselves nearly as badly off as before. An application 
to the Bank of Columbia for temporary help resulted in the 
reply that the bank would lend them $3,000 "at a time when we 
are not accommodating any individual and the Banks of Balti- 
more are continually calling on us for specie." An application 
to the Bank of Alexandria resulted in a refusal. 

It was finally decided to lay the matter before President 
Adams, and on November 25, 1797, the Commissioners addressed 
a memorial to him reciting the disappointments which had grown 
out of the Greenleaf and Morris contract, the difficulties which 
had been met in attempting to sell the public lots, and the failure 
of the attempted Holland loan, and stated that the only sugges- 
tion they had to make was the impracticable expedient of 
exposing the public lots at auction until the whole should be 
sold. Action upon this memorial was suspended upon receipt 
of a communication from Colonel Forrest to the effect that he 
believed that a decent majority of both houses of the Maryland 
Legislature, then in session, would favor a second loan of $100,- 
000. Accordingly a memorial was drawn by the Commissioners 
and presented to the Maryland Assembly by Mr. Scott on 
December 13, 1797, with the result that on the 22d of the same 
month a second loan similar to and upon the same conditions as 
the first was authorized by that body. The casting vote of the 
Speaker was required for its passage in the House of Delegates, 
owing to the activities of the friends of the Potowmack Com- 
pany who were seeking aid for that enterprise. 



History of the City of Washington. 207 

This second loan from the State of Maryland was far from 
adequate to meet the requirements of the Commissioners for the 
ensuing season. With this prospect confronting them the Com- 
missioners decided to make an appeal to Congress for direct 
financial assistance. Accordingly the memorial to President 
Adams was revived and Mr. White commissioned to proceed to 
Philadelphia to lay the facts before the members of Congress. 

Mr. White arrived in Philadelphia early in February, 1798. 
He found President Adams unwilling to assume the responsi- 
bility of transmitting to Congress the memorial which had been 
addressed to him, with a message from himself asking the aid 
of that body ; but agreeable to the idea of transmitting a memo- 
rial to be addressed to Congress by the Commissioners. This 
plan was adopted. The labors of Mr. White were arduous, but 
after two months and a half his persistence was rewarded by the 
passage on April 18, 1798, of a law authorizing the loan to the 
Commissioners of one hundred thousand dollars in two yearly 
installments, bearing interest at six per cent. All the unsold 
public lots in the city were declared to be subject to sale for the 
repayment of the loan. 

Until the passage of this act the Commissioners had kept in 
communication with Messrs. Willink and Willink of Holland in 
the hope that conditions in Europe would so improve as to make 
it possible to place a loan there ; but the continuation of the wars 
on the continent had prevented the consummation of this meas- 
ure. Upon the granting of the loan by Congress, negotiations 
with that firm were closed. 

This federal loan, together with such funds as were obtained 
from sales of lots, carried the operations, through the seasons of 
1798 and 1799. Towards the close of the season of 1799 it 
became apparent that still further advances would be required 
in order to make it possible to have the public buildings ready 
for the accommodation of the government at the date set for its 
removal. The borrowing power of the public property had been 
exhausted by the three loans already obtained. It was necessary 
to obtain a loan upon other security, and for this purpose it was 
decided to ask the opinion of President Adams upon the question 



208 History of the City of Washington. 

of pledging the public equity in the lots which had been con- 
tracted for but not fully paid for — principally those involved in 
the Morris and Greenleaf contract. Two letters were written 
to President Adams upon this point, but no reply being received 
it was on December 9, 1799, decided by a majority of the Board, 
in view of the urgency of the case and the rapidly approaching 
close of the session of the Maryland Legislature, to make the 
application without waiting for the President's approval. As 

on previous occasions the efforts of Colonel Forrest proved effica- 
cious. The application was promptly answered by a resolution 
passed on December 23, 1799, authorizing a loan of $50,000 in 
United States stock to be bottomed upon such real and personal 
security as the Governor and Council of the State should approve. 
The terms of security required by the Maryland authorities were 
met by the execution on February 28, 1800, of a bond signed by 
Commissioners Scott and Thornton and joined in by Colonel 
Uriah Forrest and General James M. Lingan. In addition Col- 
onel Forrest gave a mortgage upon a farm of four hundred and 
twenty acres of land in Montgomery County. 

On July 1, 1802, the office of the three Commissioners was 
abolished by section 1 of "An act to abolish the Board of Com- 
missioners in the City of Washington, and for other purposes," 
approved May 1, 1802, which directed the Commissioners to 
deliver all their official records and property relating to said 
city to an officer created by said act and styled "Superintend- 
ent," to be appointed by the President, and to succeed to all 
the powers and duties of said Commissioners. By that act the 
Superintendent was directed to sell sufficient of the public lots, 
which had been pledged under the Guarantee Act, to satisfy the 
two one hundred thousand dollar Maryland loans as fast as the 
interest and installments should come due under the terms of 
the Guarantee Act. The proviso was attached that if in the 
opinion of the President the sale of a sufficient number of lots 
could not be made without an unwarrantable sacrifice, so much 
money as might be necessary to provide for the deficiency should 
be paid out of the Treasury. 

For the repayment of the last Maryland loan of $50,000 



History of the City of Washington. 209 

the same Act directed the Superintendent to sell all of those 
lots held by the Commissioners for default in the payment of 
the purchase price, which had been sold by them subsequent 
to the passage of the Guarantee Law, and provided for the 
payment of any deficiency out of the Treasury. 

An account of the financial affairs of the Commissioners 
would be incomplete without some reference to their dealings with 
Morris and Greenleaf, and with Morris and Nicholson who suc- 
ceeded to the interest of Morris and Greenleaf in the contract 
with the Commissioners. 

The outcome of that contract, which had promised so much 
for the city, was a great disappointment to every one concerned. 
Morris, Greenleaf and Nicholson fell far short of living up to 
their undertaking, and a large part of the energies of the Com- 
missioners was devoted to efforts to obtain from those gentlemen 
a fair degree of compliance with the terms of their contract. 
Nevertheless the funds obtained as a result of that transaction, 
tardy and hard wrung though they were, aided materially in 
making it possible to complete the public buildings in time for 
the reception of the Government at the date set for its removal 
to the new seat. 

Not long after the execution of the contract with Morris and 
Greenleaf, the Commissioners received a remittance of $16,000 
from those gentlemen. On July 9, 1794, the Commissioners 
entered into an arrangement with Mr. Greenleaf separately, 
whereby they executed certificates to him for three thousand 
lots in the city, to be used as security for a loan of £300,000, 
one-third of which was to be for the benefit of the city. Many 
difficulties were met in obtaining the money, and finally the 
idea was given up and the 1000 lots intended to secure the city 's 
share of the loan were reconveyed. Mr. Greenleaf succeeded in 
obtaining a portion of the loan sought in Holland on his own 
account. However, the matter of an advance was taken up with 
Morris and Greenleaf jointly, and on October 18, 1794, the 
Commissioners conveyed to the latter eight hundred and fifty- 
seven lots in return for their acceptance of bills of exchange 



210 History of the City of Washington. 

sufficient to furnish the Commissioners an advance of $12,000, 
and other sums to be paid thereafter. 

The expected funds were not realized, and after numerous 
futile applications to Morris and Greenleaf, the Commissioners 
stated the case to President "Washington, who referred their 
communication to Mr. Morris. The reply of the latter stated 
that he had been making every possible effort to obtain the 
money, but that the financial stringency then prevalent in this 
country and the wars then engaging Europe, had made it 
impossible for him to do so. 

When Mr. "White went to Philadelphia to urge upon Con- 
gress the passage of the Guarantee Law, he was directed to 
endeavor to obtain funds from Morris, Greenleaf and Nicholson, 
and his letters to his colleagues show that much of his time and 
efforts were devoted to that end, although he was only able to 
obtain remittances amounting altogether to about $10,000. Mr. 
White's letters also show that the financial ruin which later 
sent Mr. Greenleaf into bankruptcy and Morris and Nicholson 
to the debtor's prison, was already fastening upon those gentle- 
men. The fact is that these bold adventurers had engaged upon 
a campaign of land speculation throughout the United States, of 
an almost incredible extent. From New York to Georgia they 
had bought up vast areas of wilderness. In the City of Wash- 
ington they had not confined themselves to their contract with 
the Commissioners, but had dealt extensively with the proprie- 
tors. The wars then raging in Europe and the depredations 
upon American commerce had created a shortage of money 
which made impossible any approach to compliance with their 
enormous obligations. Mr. Morris at the time of his eventual 
failure, was indebted to upwards of three million dollars. 

Strictly speaking, Morris and Greenleaf were also completely 
remiss in the matter of compliance with their agreement with 
the Commissioners to build twenty houses each year. They did 
in fact erect thirty buildings under a contract with Daniel 
Carroll of Duddington, which were completed to the roofing in 
the year 1796, and the Commissioners accepted this as a partial 
compliance with their building engagement; but this was the 



History of the City of Washington. 211 

extent of their operations in that direction. These buildings 
were generally referred to at the time as the "Twenty Build- 
ings." Their location is described by Mr. Allen C. Clark, in 
his volume "Greenleaf and Law in the Federal City," as 
follows : 

"On South Capitol street beginning at M, southward, 

were five houses each twenty-nine feet five inches front ; 

then an alley twenty-five feet wide; then twelve houses 

each twenty feet wide; then an alley twenty feet wide, 

then five houses each twenty-nine feet five inches front, the 

most southern on the corner with N street. On N, were four 

houses each eighteen feet one inch front; then a vacant 

space ; then four houses each eighteen feet nine inches front, 

the most western on the corner with Half street. The houses 

on South Capitol Street had 'breast summer fronts' and 

were 'capable of making a handsome row of fronts.' : 

Following the unsatisfactory results of Mr. "White's efforts, 

the Commissioners were compelled to place with a lawyer for 

suit, the bills of exchange aggregating in the neighborhood of 

$35,000, on which they had made their conveyance to Morris 

and Greenleaf; but the bills were finally paid before suit was 

entered. 

It had early become apparent that the only means of recov- 
ery open to the Commissioners was a resale of the lots which 
had been contracted for but not actually conveyed. The question 
arose as to whether it would be necessary to go into Chancery 
and obtain a decree of court authorizing such a sale or whether 
it would be competent for the Commissioners to proceed by the 
summary method of resale upon advertisement provided for by 
the Maryland act of December 28, 1794. This act had been 
passed four days after the execution of the contract with Morris 
and Greenleaf and it was contended by the latter that it could 
not operate retroactively so as to affect their contract. Mr. 
White while in Philadelphia in connection with the Guarantee 
Bill, obtained the opinion of Attorney General Charles Lee upon 
this point. Mr. Lee's opinion was that a sale under the Mary- 
land act was proper and that the act could not be regarded as 
ex post facto since it did not alter the contract but merely pro- 



212 History of the City of Washington. 

vided a speedy mode of preventing injuries which might arise 
from a breach thereof. 

In the summer and fall of 1797 the Commissioners held 
several sales of lots, but the scarcity of money and the efforts 
of Morris and Greenleaf to create a belief among prospective 
buyers that the sales were unlawful, prevented the realization of 
any considerable amount of money. 

In June, 1798, the Commissioners advertised a sale to be 
held in the following September, of a long list of Morris and 
Greenleaf 's lots to raise the sum of $120,000 then due from the 
latter, and fortified themselves against the assaults of Morris 
and Greenleaf by a second opinion of the Attorney General, 
confirmatory of his first opinion, which they published before 
the sale. The sales on this occasion were more extensive than 
formerly, but still very disappointing. 

In 1799 the Commissioners again advertised a sale but this 
time were stopped by an injunction brought by Mr. Greenleaf, 
after selling $41,000 worth of lots. In 1800 the sales amounted 
to nearly $60,000. In a letter written in November, 1799, to 
Colonel Stoddert, then Secretary of the Navy, the Commissioners 
say that $103,500 was then due from Morris and Nicholson. As 
five installments of $68,571 or $342,855 in all would have been 
then due under the terms of the contract, it would seem that 
the Commissioners had up to that time received in the neighbor- 
hood of $239,355 from the transaction. The funds derived from 
sales of lots were not confined to those received from the Morris 
and Greenleaf transaction, but the other sales were of compara- 
tive unimportance. 

Morris, Greenleaf and Nicholson sold many of their lots to 
various purchasers, chief among whom was Thomas Law, an 
Englishman who had amassed a fortune in India and who settled 
in Washington and became one of its prominent citizens. An 
account of the ramifications of the transactions of this remark- 
able group of men in the City of Washington; their quarrels 
among themselves; their disputes with the Commissioners, and 
the varied, extensive and protracted litigation which arose out 
of their affairs, would be of great interest, but impossible in the 



History of the City of Washington. 213 

limits of a volume devoted to the history of the City of Wash- 
ington. It has been made the subject of the intensely interesting 
volume by Mr. Allen C. Clark, heretofore mentioned, "Greenleaf 
and Law in the Federal City. ' ' 

It may be readily gathered from the review which has been 
given of the financial activities of the Commissioners that their 
operations involving the expenditure of the funds acquired by 
them must have been extensive. These were mainly confined to 
the completion of the Capitol and President's House upon the 
plans adopted by their predecessors, and the erection of the 
buildings for the executive offices. Enough has been said in the 
preceding chapter to give some idea of the difficulties attending 
the erection of the Capitol and President's House. Disputes 
with the workmen and with the superintendents in charge of 
the work were frequent and resulted eventually in the commit- 
ting of the superintendence of all the public buildings to Mr. 
Hoban. An interesting letter is found from Samuel Small- 
wood, an employee, who complains of both the small pay, $15 
per month, and the diet, which, he says, "are nothing more 
than salt meat for Brexfast, Dinner and Supper, which is 
neither palitable nor Constitutinal. " 

The work upon the Capitol was confined, after the con- 
struction of the foundations, to the completion of the north 
wing. On June 20, 1801, following the removal of the Govern- 
ment to Washington, a contract was entered into with William 
Lovering and William Dyer to erect a temporary building on 
the elliptical foundation of the south wing for the accommodation 
of the House of Representatives.* 

After the roofing of the President's House the work upon 
that building was subordinated to that on the Capitol, but on 
November 15, 1800, a contract was entered into to finish it in 
one month. 

On June 23, 1798, the Commissioners contracted with Leon- 
ard Harbaugh for the erection of a building for the Treasury 
Department, east of the President's House, for $39,511. The 

*The United States Capitol in 1800, by Glenn Brown. Vol. 4, 
Records Col. Hist. Soc. 



214 History of the City of Washington. 

building was to be of brick exterior, 148 feet by_ 57 feet six 
inches in area. "0n~August 6, 1799, the Commissioners con- 
tracted with Harbaugh for the erection of a similar building 
west of the President's House, for the accommodation of the 
other executive departments. 

The matter of the location of these buildings was the occa- 
sion of some concern to the Commissioners. When President 
Washington induced the original proprietors to agree to the 
plan for ceding their lands to the Trustees he stated that the 
executive departments would be located near the President's 
House, and this was the location intended for them by the 
Commissioners. President Adams, however, expressed to Mr. 
White when the latter was in Philadelphia urging the federal 
loan, the opinion that these buildings should be near the Capitol 
in order to make them accessible to the members of Congress. 

On hearing of this, Robert Peter and Samuel Davidson 
addressed a protest to the Commissioners on the ground that the 
arrangement proposed by President Adams was in violation of 
President Washington's representations. The Commissioners 
promptly took the matter up with President Adams, urging not 
only the grounds advanced by Peter and Davidson but also the 
fact that President Washington had personally indicated to them 
on the ground, the spots where he desired the buildings to be 
placed, and had given in support of the location near the Presi- 
dent's House the experience of the Executive Chiefs in Phila- 
delphia who had been so hampered in their work by the visits of 
the members of Congress that they had been compelled to go to 
their homes and deny themselves to all visitors. 

So important was the question regarded that the Commis- 
sioners invoked the opinion of General Washington, then in 
retirement at Mount Vernon, who replied with some warmth in 
support of the location of the buildings near the President's 
House. As a result of these representations President Adams 
acquiesced in that arrangement. 

In November, 1795, the Maryland Legislature authorized 
Notley Young, Daniel Carroll of Duddington, Lewis Deblois, 
George Walker, William Mayne Duncanson, Thomas Law, and 



History of the City of Washington. 215 

James Barry to hold two annual lotteries for raising the sum 
of $52,500 for the purpose of rendering navigable the Tiber 
-..Creek Canal which the first Board had begun. The persons 
named were required by the Act to give bond to the Commis- 
sioners in the sum of $200,000 for the payment of the prizes 
and faithful application of the moneys raised. The work of 
completing the canal was to be subject to the direction and 
superintendence of the Commissioners. The lottery was held 
and the tickets sold, but apparently entirely on credit. The Com- 
missioners made repeated demands upon the managers of the 
lottery for an accounting, but the latter replied that despite their 
greatest exertions nothing could be collected. 

Not the least important of the acts of the Commissioners 
during the period under discussion was the fixing of the desig- 
nations of the streets and appropriations. As early as June 15, 
1795, this work was put on foot by an order to Mr. Dermott to 
prepare a plat of the city "with every public appropriation 
plainly and distinctly delineated." It was intended that upon 
the completion of this plat the Trustees, Beall and Gantt, who 
held under the deeds in trust from the original proprietors, 
should execute a conveyance to the Commissioners of all the 
streets and public appropriations, as designated upon the plat. 
This conveyance, together with the map, were to constitute the 
evidence of the title of the United States to the streets and 
public grounds. For this purpose the Commissioners advanced 
the proposition that in their official capacity they should be 
incorporated to avoid the complications incident to their taking 
title as individuals, but this measure was not put into effect. 

In the preparation of the Ellicott Map, all the designations 
of appropriations appearing on L 'Enfant 's Map, except those 
for the Capitol and President's House, were struck out, and 
after the publication of Ellicott 's Map many changes were made 
in the open spaces indicated but not referred to as appropriated 
to any particular object. These changes consisted mainly in 
reducing the sizes of these open spaces by the laying out of 
blocks which encroached upon them, as at the Arsenal Point on 



2.16 History of the City of Washington. 

Notley Young's land, and at the site intended for a fort on 
Robert Peter's land, the present site of the Naval Hospital. 

In the course of the preparation of Dermott's Map a con- 
troversy arose between the Commissioners and the proprietors 
relative to the question whether the open spaces created by the 
intersections of streets and avenues, together with the points 
of the adjacent squares which were taken off and included in 
the open spaces, were to be considered as streets or as public 
appropriations. The Commissioners contended they should be 
regarded as streets and therefore were to be donated free by 
the proprietors to the public under the terms of the deeds in 
trust. The proprietors contended that the entire areas, both 
streets and points of squares, were to be considered as appro- 
priations and to be paid for at twenty-five pounds per acre 
under the terms of the deeds of trusts, or that the points of 
squares should be laid off into building lots and divided between 
the public and themselves. 

The Commissioners wrote to President Washington on 
November 30, 1796, stating the issue in controversy and sug- 
gesting the plan of making the street area as large as possible 
relatively to the park area by laying out a street 160 feet wide 
around each of these reservations and enclosing the center as 
a park. President Washington recognized the justice of the 
claim made by the proprietors for pay for the points of land 
though not for the streets. He stated the case with his usual 
perspicacity in a letter to the Commissioners of December 26, 
1796, wherein he said: 

"With respect to the claim of individual proprietors, to 
be compensated for the spaces occasioned by the intersection 
of streets and avenues, I should conceive that they might, 
with equal propriety, ask payment for the streets them- 
selves ; but the terms of the original contract, or cession, if 
a dispute on this point should arise, must be recurred to, 
for I presume the opinion of the President, in such a case, 
would avail nothing. But if angles are to be taken off, 
at these spaces, the case is materially altered ; and, without 
designing it, you make a square where none was contem- 
plated, and thereby not only lay the foundation of claim 



History of the City of Washington. 217 

for those angles but for the space also which is made a 
square by that act." 

The settlement of this dispute failed to reconcile many of 
the proprietors to the adoption of Dermott's plan. Chief among 
the objectors was Samuel Davidson, who from the time of the 
appearance of Ellicott's map had protested that the alteration 
made by Ellicott in the north front of the President's Square, 
changing it from a semi-circle, as planned by L 'Enfant, to a 
square, was an unlawful confiscation of property thus included 
in the appropriation to which as the proprietor he would have 
been entitled under the plan laid out by L 'Enfant. He con- 
tended that the President's act in laying L 'Enfant 's plan before 
Congress in December, 1791, made that the official plan of the 
city. This contention being called to the attention of President 
Washington, he on February 20, 1797, wrote to the Commission- 
ers in refutation of Mr. Davidson's position, saying: 

"That many alterations have been made from Major 
L 'Enfant 's plan by Major Ellicott, (with the approbation 
of the Executive) is not denied; that some were deemed 
essential is avowed ; and had it not been for the materials 
which he happened to possess 'tis probable no engraving 
from Major L 'Enfant 's draught would ever have been 
exhibited to the public; for after the disagreement which 
took place between him and the late Commissioners, his 
obstinacy threw every difficulty it could in the way of its 
accomplishment. 

"To this summary may be added, that Mr. Davidson is 
mistaken if he supposes that the transmission of Major 
L 'Enfant 's Plan of the City to Congress, was the comple- 
tion thereof. So far from it, it will appear by the Message 
which accompanied the same that it was given as a matter 
of information, to show in what state the business was in, 
and the return of it requested. That neither house of 
Congress passed any act consequent thereupon. That it 
remained as before, under the control of the Executive. 
That afterwards, several errors were discovered and cor- 
rected, many alterations made, and the appropriations; 
(except as to the Capitol and President's House) struck out 
under that authority, before it was scut to the engraver, 
intending that his work and the promulgation thereof, were 
to give it the final, and regulating stamp." 



218 History of the City of Washington. 

On June 22, 1797, the Commissioners wrote the Trustees, 
Beall and Gantt, requesting them to execute a conveyance of 
the streets and public reservations. Mr. Gantt in conversation 
stated that he deemed it advisable to await the completion of 
Dermott's plan and to then include in the conveyance a desig- 
nation of the appropriations after having the President 
specifically certify them as such. Accordingly on January 31, 
1797, the Commissioners forwarded to President Washington a 
draught of a proclamation designating the public appropriations 
and referring to them as being indicated on Dermott's map, which 
was recited as being attached. This proclamation was signed 
by President Washington on March 2, 1797, two days before 
the close of his administration, and in the press of business the 
affixing of the map was omitted. 

For more than a year after this the Commissioners con- 
tinued their efforts to obtain a deed from Beall and Gantt, who 
were alarmed by the contention of the proprietors that a convey- 
ance according to the designations on Dermott 's map would con- 
stitute a violation of their trust for which they would be person- 
ally responsible to the proprietors. Among other objections they 
raised the point that the map had not been attached to Presi- 
dent Washington's proclamation. Accordingly the Commission- 
ers on June 21, 1798, forwarded the Dermott map to President 
Adams with President Washington's original proclamation and 
the draft of another for execution by President Adams. The 
map was inclosed in a tin case from which circumstance it has 
come to be commonly referred to as the "tin case map." In their 
letter to President Adams, the Commissioners say: "As These 
acts are the authentic documents of the title of the public to the 
lands appropriated, we shall write to Mr. Craik or some other 
gentleman, to take charge of their return, rather than trust 
them to the mail." 

Writing to Mr. William Craik on June 25, 1798, the 
Commissioners said: 

"Some days ago, we sent the plan of the City of Wash- 
ington to the President, in order to procure his direction 
to the Trustees to convey the streets and public property in 
the City to the Commissioners, the plan is enclosed in a tin 



History of the City of Washington. 219 

case too large to go by the ordinary conveyance of the mail. 
Mr. Joseph Nourse was so obliging as to take charge of it 
to Philadelphia, and we request the favour of you to bring 
it with you when you return, as the enclosure is of great 
importance, being the evidence of the public property in 
the City." 
On the receipt of President Adams' proclamation with the 

map attached, the Co mm issioners again requested the Trustees 
to execute the conveyance, whereupon a letter was sent to the 
Trustees signed by David Burnes, William Prout, Robert Peter 
by Nicholas King his attorney, Samuel Davidson, for himself 
and the heirs of John Davidson, John Oakley for Ruth An n 
Young and the minor children of William Young, deceased, 
Daniel Carroll of Duddington and James M. Lingan. This 
letter stated that it was the understanding of the signers that 
there was no duly authenticated plan of the city exhibiting the 
streets and appropriations "as heretofore acted upon and be- 
lieved to exist;" and cautioned the Trustees at their peril not 
to convey the said streets and appropriations until there should 
be such a duly authenticated plan. The letter concluded by 
saying that if compulsory measures should be adopted to compel 
the Trustees to convey before such plan should be established, 
the signers engaged to defend the Trustees in a legal resistance 
thereto. 

On the receipt of this communication the Trustees refused 
to execute any deed specifically designating the streets and 
appropriations but offered to convey in general terms, but with- 
out specific designation, all the streets, squares and parcels 
which had been laid off by the President pursuant to the deeds 
in trust. This form of conveyance not being acceptable to the 
Commissioners the question of instituting coercive measures was 
submitted to the President. In view of the opinion of the 
Attorney General, Charles Lee, however, to the effect that it 
was not material to the United States whether the Trustees con- 
veyed public appropriations to the Commissioners or not as the 
title of the United States would be equally valid in either case, 
no further attempt was made to compel a conveyance. 

It should be remarked that by reason of the proceedings 



220 History of the City of Washington. 

here recited the Dermott map was accepted by the Supreme 
Court of the United States in the Potomac Flats cases, as the 
official and authentic map of the streets and reservations of the 
city. 

A matter of interest connected with the disposition of the 
public appropriations was the attempt of the Commissioners to 
donate a tract of land to the Queen of Portugal as a site for the 
residence of her minister. The idea of making such a donation 
had been previously discussed with the Spanish Minister, but 
the first definite step after obtaining the consent of President 
Adams, was the addressing of an identical letter on May 3, 1797, 
to the British, Batavian and Portuguese Ministers offering each 
such quantity and location of ground as they should select, and 
expressing the hope that the transaction would tend to strengthen 
the ties of friendship with this country. The offer was taken up 
by the Portuguese Minister, Chevalier Cypriano R. Freire, and 
resulted in his coming to Washington and selecting a site for 
which the Commissioners, on May 25, 1798, executed a deed to 
the Queen of Portugal, describing the tract as the Square on the 
President's Square east of Square 171, 319 feet by 281 feet five 
inches. The deed was forwarded to President Adams for an 
endorsement of his approval and was brought to the attention 
of the Attorney General in connection with a memorial from a 
number of the proprietors protesting against various of the 
acts of the Commissioners. Charles Lee, the Attorney General, 
gave it as his opinion that since the Constitution gives Congress 
the power "to dispose of and make all needful rules and regu- 
lations respecting the territory or other property belonging to 
the United States," and since the lot in question, which was 
situated on one of the public reservations, was the property of 
the United States, it could not be lawfully conveyed without an 
Act of Congress. The Commissioners sought to procure an act 
sanctioning the conveyance but Congress failed to act in the 
matter and nothing further was done. 

The date of the transfer of the seat of government to the 
District of Columbia was fixed by the first paragraph of section 
6 of the act of July 16, 1790, as follows : 



History of the City of Washington. 221 

"And be it enacted, That on the said first Monday in 
December, in the year one thousand eight hundred, the seat of 
the Government of the United States shall, by virtue of this act, 
be transferred to the District and place aforesaid;" the place 
referred to being the portion of the District selected for the 
Federal City. 

An act of Congress approved April 24, 1800, authorized the 
President of the United States to direct the removal of the 
various Executive Departments to the City of Washington at 
any time after the adjournment of the first session of the Sixth 
Congress and before the time fixed by the act of July 16, 1790, 
for the transfer of the seat of government to that place. 

The date of the first meeting of Congress in the District 
was fixed by an act passed May 13, 1800, for the 17th day, or 
the third Monday, in November, 1800; but it actually met for 
the first time in the District on November 21, which was the first 
day of the session when a quorum of both Houses was present. 
The meeting was in the north wing of the Capitol, then the only 
completed part of the building. A quorum of the House of 
Representatives was present on the 18th of that month. 

The personnel and records of the several Departments were 
transferred from Philadelphia to Washington about the same 
time, at an expense of $32,872.34, and those Departments were 
fully removed to the latter city by June 16, 1801. (Senate Doc. 
No. 238, second session, Fifty-fifth Congress.) 

The Supreme Court held its first session in Washington on 
the 2d of the ensuing February; but the first session at which a 
quorum of that court was present was held on the 4th of that 
month. 

In a message to Congress on December 3, 1799, President 

Adams said: 

"The act of Congress, relative to the seat of government 
of the. United States, requiring that on the first Monday of 
December next, it should be transferred from Philadelphia 
to the district chosen for its permanent seat, it is proper 
for me to inform you, that the Commissioners appointed to 
provide suitable buildings for the accommodation of Con- 
gress, and of the President, and of the publick offices of the 



222 History of the City of Washington. 

government, have made a report of the state of the buildings 

designed for those purposes in the city of Washington; 

from which they conclude that the removal of the seat of 

government to that place, at the time required, will be 

practicable, and the accommodation satisfactory." 

President Adams left Philadelphia May 27, and arrived in 

the District of Columbia June 3, when he was met by a large 

escort, who conducted him to the Union Tavern in Georgetown, 

the Executive Mansion not yet being ready for his reception in 

"Washington. 

Christian Hines, in his "Early Recollections of Washing- 
ton, ' ' says : 

"The vessels in which were brought the furniture, etc., 
landed and discharged their cargoes at Lear's wharf, and as 
the vessels were unladen their contents were carried away to 
the War and Treasury offices, the only two that were built at 
the time. Some of the furniture was stored away in the stone 
warehouse and afterwards taken away in wagons, it being too 
bulky to remove in carts." 

Abraham Bradley, Jr., the Assistant Postmaster General, 
wrote, June 2, 1800, his impressions of the new city to a friend, 
as follows: 

"We arrived here on Friday last, having had a pleasant 
journey as far as we travelled by daylight. Captain Steven- 
son, with whom I agreed for a house before my arrival, was 
not ready to give possession, and the house was not con- 
venient for us. I have, therefore, taken a large three-story 
house within a few rods of Blodget's Hotel, which will 
accommodate the office and my family and the Postmaster's 
office. It is about equidistant from the President's House 
and the Capitol. It is impossible that all the people 
attached to the public offices should be accommodated with 
houses, the few that have been left are at rents none under 
$250 and $300. Provisions are plenty, good enough, and 
cheaper than in Philadelphia. * * * For myself, I do 
not regret the removal. The situation of the city is beau- 
tiful." 

In November, 1800, President and Mrs. Adams took posses- 
sion of the far-from-finished President's Mansion, and Mrs. 



History of the City of Washington. 223 

Adams has left graphic descriptions of her surroundings and 
feelings. In a letter to her daughter, she wrote : 

"I arrived here on Sunday last, and without meeting 
with any accident worth noticing, except losing ourselves 
when we left Baltimore, and going eight or nine miles on 
the Frederic road, by which means we were obliged to go 
the other eight through the woods, where we wandered for 
two hours without finding guide or path. * * * Woods 
are all you see from Baltimore till you reach the city. * * * 
Here and there is a small cot, without a glass window, inter- 
spersed amongst the forests, through which you travel miles 
without seeing any human being. In the city there are 
buildings enough, if they were compact and finished, to 
accommodate Congress and those attached to it ; but as they 
are, and scattered as they are, I see no great comfort for 
them." 

Describing the President 's House, she said : ' ' The house is 
made habitable, but there is not a single apartment finished. We 
have not the least fence, yard or other convenience without, and 
the great unfinished audience room I make a drying room of, 
to hang up the clothes in. The principal stairs are not up and 
will not be this winter." 

Mrs. Adams expressed the opinion that if the twelve year's 
work had been going on in New England it would have been 
better managed and completion much nearer its end; but she 
saw the possibilities of the new city, for she continued: "It is 
a beautiful spot, capable of any improvement, and the more I 
view it the more I am delighted with it. ' ' 

One of the Congressmen, John Cotton Smith, also described 
his impressions of the wilderness city after his arrival there in 
1800, thus: 

"Our approach to the city was accompanied with sensa- 
tions not easily described. One wing of the Capitol only 
has been erected, which, with the President's house, a mile 
distant from it, both constructed with white sandstone, 
were shining objects in dismal contrast with the scene around 
them. Instead of recognizing the avenues and streets por- 
trayed on the plan of the city, not one was visible, unless 
we except a road, with two buildings on each side of it, called 
the New Jersey Avenue. The Pennsylvania, leading, as 
laid down on paper, from the Capitol to the Presidential 



224 History of the City of Washington. 

mansion, was then nearly the whole distance a deep morass, 

covered with alder bushes which were cut through the width 

of the intended avenue during the then ensuing winter. 

Between the President's house and Georgetown a block of 

houses had been erected, which then bore and still bear, the 

name of the six buildings." 

He also tells of other blocks in an unfinished, or rather a 
just-begun condition, in different directions, of buildings half 
finished and abandoned for lack of funds, saying, "There 
appeared to be but two really comfortable habitations in all 
respects, within the bounds of the city, one of which belonged 
to Dudley Carroll, Esq., and the other to Notley Young." 

An official statement of the number of dwelling houses in 
the city is to be found in a report made by the Commissioners 
to President Jefferson on December 4, 1801, wherein they say 
that on May 15, 1800, there were 109 brick and 263 wooden 
dwellings, and that on November 15, 1801, there had been added 
to these 84 of brick and 150 of wood, with 79 brick and 35 wooden 
houses unfinished; a total of 735. The probabilities are that 
many of these were the temporary structures which the Com- 
missioners had allowed to be erected for the use of workmen and 
tradesmen. It should be noted that the original building regu- 
lations had been amended on June 25, 1796, so as to permit of 
the erection of frame dwellings until the first Monday of Decem- 
ber, 1800. 

Inhabitants of the new district showed their interest in the 
proceedings of Congress by sending to that body of law-makers 
a letter "expressive of satisfaction upon the first meeting of the 
national assembly at the permanent seat of government." 

Before the Government was fairly settled in its new home a 
destructive fire occurred in the War Department building on 
Pennsylvania avenue, when many valuable government papers 
and records were destroyed. This misfortune occurred on 
November 8, 1800. 

The loss occasioned by this fire was a severe blow to the 
Government, but matters had just fairly been put to rights, 
when a second destructive conflagration occurred in the Treas- 
ury Department on January 20, 1801. 



CHAPTER VI 



The Mayoralty Government of Washington; 1802-1871. 

Charters. 

On May 3, 1802, the first charter of the City of Washington 
was granted under an Act of Congress incorporating the inhab- 
itants, and dividing the city into three wards for the purpose 
of assessment. This charter provided for the government of the 
city by a Mayor, to be appointed annually by the President, and 
an elective Council of twelve members divided into a "first 
chamber" of seven members, and a "second chamber" of five 
members, the latter to be chosen from the whole number of 
councillors. The continuance of this charter was limited to a 
period of two years. It was renewed at its expiration by an act 
approved February 28, 1804, for an added term of fifteen years. 
The act of renewal changed the council to consist of two cham- 
bers of nine members each, both of which were to be chosen by 
popular election. 

An act of Congress approved May 4, 1812, further amended 
the charter so as to provide for the election of the Mayor by the 
"Councils," which were to consist of a Board of Aldermen of 
eight members elected biennially, two from each ward, and a 
Board of Common Council, of twelve members, elected annually, 
three from each ward. This act provided for the redistricting 
of the city from time to time so as to equalize as nearly as 
possible the numbers of voters in the several wards. 

An entirely new charter was created by an act of Congress 
approved May 15, 1820. This act contained many provisions 
relating to the powers and duties of the Corporation but made 
little change in the form of government except to provide for 



226 History of the City of Washington. 

the election of the Mayor biennially by popular ballot and for 
the annual election alternately of one of the two aldermen from 
each ward. By this act the city was provisionally divided into 
six wards. The charter of 1820 was by its terms to continue in 
force for twenty years. It was amended in minor respects in 
1824 and 1826, and as so amended continued in force until 1848. 
Up to this time the city officers, aside from the Mayor and 
members of the two boards of the Council, had been appointed 
under authority of ordinances creating their offices. In 1848 
the charter was amended to make the offices of assessor, register, 
collector and surveyor, elective. The charter, as amended in 
1848, continued in force under its own provisions for a period 
of twenty years with some amendments made in 1864 and 1865. 

Upon the expiration of the term of this charter in 1868, 
it was continued for one year with an amendment making all 
officers who had previously been appointed by the Mayor, elective 
by the Mayor, Board of Aldermen and Board of Common 
Council in joint session. In 1869 these offices were again made 
appointive by the Mayor and in this form the charter continued 
in force until the Territorial form of government went into full 
effect on June 1, 1871. 

The control of the property of the United States in the city 
remained until 1816, in the Superintendent who had succeeded 
to the original Commissioners on June 1, 1802. By an act 
approved April 29, 1816, the office of Superintendent was 
abolished and the duties thereof as well as those of the three 
Commissioners appointed by the President under the Act of 
February 13, 1815, to superintend the reconstruction of the 
public buildings after their destruction by the British in 1814, 
were imposed upon a single Commissioner. By act approved 
March 2, 1867, they were placed under the Chief of Engineers 
of the Army, who designates for their immediate supervision an 
officer entitled the Officer of Public Buildings and Grounds. 

On June 1, 1802, Robert Brent was appointed by President 
Jefferson to be the first Mayor of the City of Washington. Mr. 
Brent was an active and prominent citizen. He served as Jus- 



History of the City of Washington. 227 

tice of the Peace from 1801 to 1817; and as Judge of the 
Orphans' Court from 1806 to 1814. He was President of the 
Patriotic Bank and a member of the school board. He was 
reappointed nine times, but resigned just before the close of his 
tenth term, upon the passage by Congress of the charter of May 
4, 1812, which made his office elective. 

Daniel Rapine was appointed to fill out Mayor Brent's 
unexpired term. Upon the expiration of that term, he was, on 
June 1, 1812, elected to succeed himself by the City Councils, in 
accordance with the new charter, and served one term. Dr. 
James H. Blake, who succeeded Mr. Rapine in June, 1813, was 
elected by the City Councils for four consecutive terms. Benja- 
min G. Orr was elected in the same manner in 1817 and served 
two terms. Samuel N. Smallwood was elected by the City Coun- 
cils in 1819, being the last Mayor so elected. 

In 1820 Mr. Smallwood was elected by popular ballot under 
the new charter of that year. Mr. Smallwood was followed in 
1822 by Thomas Carberry, who served one term. Mr. Smallwood 
was again elected in June, 1824, but his term was cut short by 
his death on September 30 of that year. Roger C. Weightman 
was elected by the City Councils to succeed Mayor Smallwood on 
October 4, 1824, and in June, 1826, was elected by popular vote. 
He resigned on July 31, 1827, to become cashier of the Bank 
of "Washington. 

Joseph Gales, Jr., was elected by the City Councils on July 
31, 1827, to fill out the unexpired term of Mayor Weightman, 
and in June, 1828, was elected by the people for one term. Mr. 
Gales was born at Eckington, near Sheffield, April 10, 1786, and 
died in Washington, D. C, July 21, 1860. He was educated at 
the University of North Carolina, went to Philadelphia to learn 
the art of printing, and in 1807 settled at Washington as the 
assistant and afterward as the partner of Samuel Harrison 
Smith, who in 1800 had removed the "Independent Gazetter" 
to Washington and changed its name to the "National Intelli- 
gencer." In 1810 Mr. Gales became sole proprietor of the 
journal, which was published tri-weekly. In 1812 he took into 



228 History of the City of Washington. 

partnership his brother-in-law, Mr. William W. Seaton, and in 
January, 1813, began to issue the "National Intelligencer" 
daily. It was continued till 1867. Mr. Gales was succeeded in 
June, 1830, by John P. Van Ness who served two terms. 

Mr. Van Ness was succeeded by "William A. Bradley who 
served from June, 1834, to June, 1836, and was in turn succeeded 
by Peter Force, who served two terms from June, 1836, to 
June, 1840. 

Mr. Force was a striking character. He had come to Wash- 
ington in 1815, and from that year had remained one of the 
city's progressive workers. For nine years he was the forceful 
editor of a daily paper, the National Journal. When he had 
lived in the National Capital six years he was elected a council- 
man and then an alderman, and was selected by his contempo- 
raries as president of both these boards. He was prominent in 
military as well as in civic affairs and was successively elected 
Captain, Lieutenant-colonel, Colonel and Major-General in the 
District Militia. A scientific man, he was elected and served 
for several years as President of the National Institute. 

His service to the city was inestimable in recording statistics 
and other historical facts, thus leaving much useful information 
for future historians and statisticians. He published the 
"National Calendar and Annals of the United States," which 
publication he continued to issue from 1820, for sixteen years, 
missing three years during the time. John Quincy Adams was 
a contributor to this paper and Henry Clay his warm friend 
and advocate. 

Other of his writings were ' ' Historical Tracts, ' ' and a series 
of American Archives. Of these, Mr. A. R. Spofford, the 
Librarian of Congress, said: "These archives constitute a 
thesaurus of original information about the two most momentous 
years of the Revolutionary Struggle, and especially concerning 
the Declaration of Independence, of inestimable value." 

Mayor Force was one of the first American collectors of man- 
uscripts and documents, and was untiring in securing files of 
Washington papers, "Army Orders" and other published 



History of the City of Washington. 229 

records of American affairs, thus preserving unbroken successive 
historical information. After his death his collection of docu- 
ments was purchased under an act of Congress for the Congres- 
sional Library. 

Mr. Force was succeeded by William W. Seaton who held 
office for a full decade of five successive terms from June, 1840, 
to June, 1850. Mr. Seaton was born in King William County, 
Va., Jan. 11, 1785, and died in Washington, D. C, June 16, 
1866. He successively edited the "Petersburg Register," the 
"North Carolina Journal" at Halifax, and the "Register" at 
Raleigh, N. C. ; and in 1812 became partner with his brother- 
in-law Joseph Gales, Jr., in the "National Intelligencer" at 
Washington, which, after the death of Mr. Gales in 1860, he 
continued to edit alone till 1865. From 1812 to 1820 Gales and 
Seaton were the exclusive reporters as well as editors of their 
journal, one of them devoting himself to the Senate and the 
other to the House of Representatives. Their "Register of 
Debates" is one of the standard sources of American history. 

Mr. Seaton was a Whig and was opposed to many measures 
of National policy, especially as regarded the banking system. 
His election by the city caused much dissatisfaction in Congress 
and brought about political turmoil between the City and 
National Governments. The Senate formed a bill to abolish 
the city charter and passed it to a third reading. 

The District citizens were indignant over what they con- 
sidered unjust treatment by Congress, and on July 27, 1840, a 
mass meeting was called in front of the City Hall for the pur- 
pose of discussing their wrongs and devising remedies. The 
new Mayor was made chairman of the meeting and Walter 
Lenox secretary. 

Resolutions were taken to hold a convention in Washington 
August 10, following, for the purpose of adopting measures to 
right affairs in the District of Columbia, to which citizens of 
Georgetown and Alexandria were invited. 

As not all of Congress had agreed to the measures taken 
against the District, the meeting adopted resolutions of thanks 



230 History of the City of Washington. 

to Honorables William D. Merrick, Chairman of the District 
Committee of the Senate, and William C. Johnson, Chairman of 
the District Committee for the House, and to other members who 
had resisted the measures of Congress. 

Georgetown also held an indignation meeting on July 21, 
in front of the Mayor's office, at which a committee was 
appointed to draw up resolutions to report at a meeting to be 
held July 23, in the Lancastrian school house. 

All these meetings brought about a petition for a new 
charter, as that granted in 1820, had been stipulated to continue 
in force for twenty years, and that time had about expired. This 
petition, signed by nearly four hundred citizens, was presented 
to Congress, and was referred to a select committee, of which 
Mr. Norvell of Michigan was chairman. 

The bill reported by the Committee was entitled, "An Act 
to Amend and Continue in Force the Act to Incorporate the 
Inhabitants of Washington." It was really an act to amend 
only, and not one to "Continue in Force." To the satisfaction 
of the city, it was laid on the table after the third reading. One 
feature which made the bill unpopular was the clause abolishing 
slavery, a change not yet approved nor considered practicable by 
the District nor by many Congressmen. 

Mayor Seaton was succeeded by Walter Lenox who served 
one term from 1850 to 1852, and who was in turn succeeded in 
June, 1852, by John W. Maury who served for one term. Mr. 
Maury was succeeded in June, 1854, by John T. Towers, who 
served one term until June, 1856, when he was succeeded by 
Dr. William B. Magruder. 

In June, 1858, James G. Berrett, the late postmaster of this 
city, was elected by a vote of 3,688, as against 3,117 for Richard 
Wallach, formerly Marshal of the District. Mr. Berrett ran as 
the "Anti-Know-Nothing" candidate and Mr. Wallach as the 
Republican candidate. In 1860, the same candidates were 
opposed on the same issues, Mr. Berrett receiving 3,434 votes 
as against 3,410 for Mr. Wallach. Dr. Magruder, as an inde- 
pendent candidate, received 147 votes. Mr. Wallach gave notice 



History of the City of Washington. 231 

that he would contest the election on the ground of fraud, but 
the contest did not come to trial. On August 24, 1861, Mayor 
Berrett was arrested by a detail of the Provost Marshal's guard 
and taken to Fort Lafayette for refusing to take the oath of 
loyalty to the United States, which was prescribed by Congress. 
Two days later the City Councils at a special session elected Mr. 
Wallach to fill the office of Mayor until Mr. Berrett 's return. 
No proof of disloyalty being found against Mr. Berrett who 
maintained his attachment for the Union, he was released, but 
on September 14, resigned his office. A doubt then arising as to 
whether the previous election of Mr. Wallach by the Councils 
was valid, the question was submitted to the Corporation Attor- 
ney, Joseph H. Bradley, who gave as his opinion that Mr. 
Wallach was the regularly elected Mayor. To avoid any uncer- 
tainty the Council held another election on October 17, 1861, 
and reaffirmed their choice of Mr. Wallach to fill out Mayor 
Berrett 's unexpired term. 

Mr. Wallach was elected by popular vote in June, 1862, 
again in 1864, and again in 1866, his term thus covering prac- 
tically the entire period of the Civil War. 

In the election which took place in June, 1868, negroes took 
part in the municipal elections of the City of Washington for 
the first time. The candidates were John T. Given, Democrat, 
and Sayles J. Bowen, Republican. On the face of the returns 
Mr. Bowen was elected. While the vote was being recounted by 
a joint committee of the City Councils the Republican members 
of the two boards declared Mr. Bowen elected Mayor, and the 
Democratic members declared W. W. Moore, Mayor, pro tempore. 
Mr. Bowen took possession of the Mayor's office and proceeded 
to act as Mayor. He held that position throughout the term 
but was defeated for re-election in June, 1870, by Matthew Gault 
Emory, who received a vote of 10,096 as against 6,877 for Mr. 
Bowen. Mr. Emory was the last of the Mayors. His term 
expired on June 1, 1871, when the Territorial form of govern- 
ment, under the act of Congress approved February 21, 1871, 
went into full effect. 



232 History of the City of Washington. 

No provision for a salary for the Mayor appears to have 
been made until August 18, 1812, when an ordinance was enacted 
allowing him four hundred dollars per annum. This was, on 
August 8, 1815, raised to five hundred dollars, on June 20, 1820, 
to one thousand dollars, on May 8, 1850, to sixteen hundred 
dollars, on March 20, 1856, to two thousand four hundred dol- 
lars, and on December 28, 1863, to three thousand six hundred 
dollars. 

By ordinance of May 30, 1807, provision was made for the 
appointment by the Mayor of Commissioners, from each of the 
four wards. They were officially designated ' ' City Commission- 
ers." Their number remained at four, notwithstanding the 
increase in the number of wards, until June 4, 1829, when they 
were increased to six, and denominated ' ' Ward Commissioners. ' ' 
By ordinance of May 24, 1853, their number was reduced to 
four, and they were designated Commissioners of Improvements. 
As "City Commissioners" they constituted a board and were 
presided over by the Mayor. They were required to meet at 
least once each month. As "City Commissioners," "Ward Com- 
missioners ' ' and ' ' Commissioners of Improvements ' ' their duties 
were to superintend the execution of the laws of the Councils 
and prosecute for violations thereof, to direct the expenditure 
of appropriations not particularly designated; to contract for 
and superintend the making of public improvements ; to enforce 
the removal of nuisances, and perform various other services 
in connection with the police, fire, health and tax departments 
of the city. 

The first act of the City Councils was the passage of an 
ordinance on July 20, 1802, adopting as the Seal of the city, 
"the representation of an edifice supported on sixteen columns, 
having the word 'Washington' at the top, the words 'City Seal' 
with the figures '1802' at the bottom, and the motto 'Union' 
beneath the dome. ' ' 

In 1802 ordinances were passed establishing the Center 
Market at the present site of the Washington Market and pro- 
viding other public markets. 



History of the City of Washington. 233 

At frequent intervals ordinances were passed respecting 
nearly all matters which are the subject of municipal regula- 
tion today. 

The regulations specifically concerning colored persons, 
both free and slave, during the early half century of the city's 
existence, formed no inconsiderable part of the laws enacted by 
the City Councils. Extensive ordinances were passed in 1812, 
1821, 1827, 1836 and 1850. These enactments required the 
registration of the free negroes of the city and their families, 
the exhibition of evidence of their title to freedom and certifi- 
cates of good character, and the furnishing of bond each year, 
with white sureties, for their good behavior, and provided for 
the issuing of annual licenses to such as complied with the 
requirements of the law in these respects. 

The rules governing the conduct of free negroes were very 
strict. It was unlawful for one of them to give a dance at his 
house without written consent of the Mayor. They were forbid- 
den to go at large after ten o'clock at night; and all meetings 
by them after that hour were prohibited. The sale of liquor to 
negroes after sunset was unlawful. They were not allowed to 
keep taverns or sell liquor, and no licenses could be issued to 
them except to drive hacks and carts. 

By the charters of 1812 and 1820 offenses committed by 
slaves were made punishable by whipping, not exceeding forty 
stripes, or by imprisonment not exceeding six months for any 
one offense. This did not apply to free negroes. In some cases 
it was provided by ordinance that the owner might relieve the 
slave from the penalty of whipping by paying the fine with 
which the offense would have been punishable if committed by 
a white person. 

The first ordinance relating to the subject of cruelty to 
animals dates back to July 12, 1821, when it was made punishable 
with a fine of five dollars, or in cases of slaves, by not less than 
five nor more than ten lashes, to "cruelly beat or wantonly abuse 
any animal of the horse kind." 

For the enforcement of the city ordinances the office of 
Superintendent of Police at a salary of two hundred dollars per 



234 History of the City of Washington. 

annum was created on September 20, 1803. This officer was 
required to visit every part of the city at least once a month and 
any particular part thereof at any other time when required by 
a householder, and to give information to some magistrate of 
and prosecute for all breaches of law. In addition to his salary 
he was to receive one-half the penalties received in cases in which 
he was the informer. 

In 1805 this office was abolished and its duties transferred 
to an officer called the High Constable. The latter office was 
abolished in 1807 and its duties conferred upon the four Ward 
Commissioners. In 1808 the city was divided into two Police 
Districts, each presided over by a Police Officer. The latter office 
was abolished in 1811 and its duties transferred back to the 
Ward Commissioners and to constables appointed under the Act 
of 1807. The constables were legislated out of office in 1820 
and were restored in 1821. 

By an act approved August 23, 1842, Congress provided 
for a police establishment known as the Auxiliary Watch, or 
Auxiliary Guard. As first constituted that force consisted of a 
Captain and fifteen officers. In 1851 Congress increased the 
number of officers by fifteen. This force had the same functions 
as the police force of the city; it was subject to the Mayor's 
orders and was controlled by a set of regulations established by 
a board consisting of the Mayor, the United States District 
Attorney and the Corporation Attorney; it availed itself of the 
use of the headquarters of the city force at the City Hall; it 
was required to co-operate with and assist the city police force, 
and for all practical purposes was an integral part of the city 
police system, though receiving its pay from Congress. This 
dual police system continued in effect until the creation by Con- 
gress of the Metropolitan Police District in 1861. 

By act of August 6, 1861, Congress created the Metropolitan 
Police District comprising the corporations of Washington and 
Georgetown and the County of Washington. By this act the 
President of the United States was authorized to appoint five 
commissioners; three from Washington, one from Georgetown 
and one from the part of the District of Columbia lying outside 



History of the City of Washington. 235 

of those corporations. These Commissioners, with the Mayors 
of Washington and Georgetown, constituted the Board of Police, 
which was empowered to divide the District of Columbia into 
not more than ten precincts, establish stations, assign sergeants 
and patrolmen to exercise general supervision over licensed 
vendors, hackmen, cartmen, second hand dealers, intelligence 
offices, auctioneers of watches and jewelry, suspected private 
banking houses, ' ' and other doubtful establishments. ' ' 

By the act of July 23, 1866, an additional force was pro- 
vided for and the offices of Mayor, Captain, Lieutenant, and 
Sergeant established. By act of March 2, 1867, previous service 
in the Army or Navy of the United States was made a condition 
of employment on the force, but this prerequisite was later 
revoked by court decision. The Board of Metropolitan Police 
continued in existence until the establishment of the permanent 
form of government for the District under the act of Congress 
approved June 11, 1878, when its functions were transferred to 
the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia. 

The disastrous fires in the two department buildings which 
occurred shortly after the removal of the Government to Wash- 
ington, resulted in early action by the City Councils looking to 
provision for the prevention and extinguishment of fires. On 
January 10, 1803, an ordinance was passed requiring every pro- 
prietor of a dwelling or business house to provide as many 
leather two and one-half gallon fire buckets as there were stories 
to his house, and imposing other duties upon citizens in connec- 
tion with the prevention and extinguishment of fires. 

On July 24, 1804, the city was divided into four fire wards 
and provision made for the organization of a volunteer fire 
company in each ward. In 1815 the sum of one hundred and 
seventy-five dollars was appropriated for the purchase of ladders, 
fire hooks, axes, crow-bars and buckets. In 1817 an annual 
appropriation of twenty-five dollars was provided for the upkeep 
of the several engines in the city. All citizens were made subject 
to service at the requirement of the commanders of the fire 
companies who were distinguished by a white wand five feet 
long and a speaking trumpet. 



236 History of the City of Washington. 

In 1853, provision was made for an Inspector of Fire Appa- 
ratus who was required to make monthly inspections of the 
apparatus of each company in the city which was expected to 
be found at all times to be of the value of at least five hundred 
dollars. By the same ordinance an annual appropriation of one 
hundred dollars was made payable to each company of not less 
than fifty members which in the opinion of the Mayor possessed 
an efficient organization. The governing body of the department 
consisted of the presidents of the several fire companies. Rivalry 
and friction between the fire companies was such a source of 
disorder that in 1857 the Mayor, to prevent conflicts, was author- 
ized to prescribe limits beyond which it was unlawful for the 
apparatus of the several companies to be run. 

On October 6, 1862, the fire companies were organized under 
the name of The Washington Fire Department. The governing 
body of the department consisted of five delegates from each 
company. 

In 1865, the city purchased three steam fire engines and in 
1867 added two more. The United States Government had pre- 
viously acquired three steam engines for the protection of its 
property and these had commonly been used in co-operation 
with the city fire department. The Government disbanded its 
fire department in 1864. 

The first measure relating to the public health appears to 
have been an ordinance approved May 1, 1811, making it punish- 
able with a fine of one hundred dollars to voluntarily introduce 
or propagate smallpox in the city, and requiring the person 
in whose family it should be accidentally introduced to forthwith 
notify the Mayor under penalty of twenty dollars fine. 

By ordinance of August 14, 1819, the Mayor was required 
to appoint a discreet and prudent citizen, being a member of 
the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, to be Health 
Officer of the City. 

This officer was required to report nuisances, sources of 
disease, epidemics and contagious diseases, with his opinion as 
to means for restraining and preventing them and to keep a 
register of deaths and their causes upon weekly reports from the 



History of the City of Washington. 237 

sextons of cemeteries based upon certificates of undertakers or 
personal inquiry. 

On March 30, 1822, the office of Health Officer was abolished 
and a Board of Health created, to consist of one physician and 
one layman from each ward in addition to the physician attend- 
ing the Washington Asylum. The powers and functions of the 
Board of Health were enlarged from time to time by numerous 
ordinances. On January 17, 1856, the office of Commissioner of 
Health who should be ex officio Secretary of the Board, was 
created with functions so extensive as to practically make that 
officer supersede the Board which was, however, still continued 
in existence. 

The water supply of the city in its early years was drawn 
entirely from wells and springs. By an ordinance passed in 
1812, the Mayor was authorized to sink wells upon petition of 
two-thirds of the residents of any neighborhood and assess the 
cost against the property thought by the ward assessors to be 
benefitted by the improvement. In 1818 similar provision was 
made for the construction of concrete reservoirs at the sites of 
hydrants. 

The most prominent spring in or near the city was that 
located on the farm of J. A. Smith just north of the present 
pumping plant on North Capitol Street. This was one of the 
sources of Tiber Creek. In 1831 its waters were conducted in 
iron pipes from a reservoir which was created on the site of 
the spring to two basins, one on the east front of the Capitol and 
the other on the west front. This pipe still furnishes the water 
for the gold fish basin at the foot of the west front of the Capitol. 
A line of pipe from this spring was carried up Pennsylvania 
Avenue nearly as far as Fifteenth Street. 

A spring in City Hall Park, about fifty feet west of the 
building supplied a line of pipe on Second Street and another on 
Louisiana Avenue as far as Seventh Street. 

On C Street between Four-and-a-Half and Sixth Streets was 
another well known spring. Another at the site of the Masonic 
Temple supplied a line of pipe on F Street and down Ninth and 
Tenth Streets. There was a spring in Franklin Square and 



238 History of the City of Washington. 

another just outside the square. At the intersection of New Jer- 
sey and New York Avenues was the Carroll Spring. A spring on 
P Street near Rock Creek for many years furnished water to 
the Metropolitan street car stables in Georgetown by means of 
a pipe under the bridge. On Virginia Avenue between Twenty- 
sixth and Twenty-seventh Streets was a large spring. The Gib- 
son spring at Fifteenth and C Streets, northeast, now utilized 
by the Hygienic Ice Company, was mentioned in a former 
chapter as having played a part in determining the location of 
the city boundary line at that point. 

The desirability of procuring a more generous supply of 
water than was furnished by springs, was early recognized. In 
1830 the subject was broached by Mr. Robert Mills, an engineer 
and architect, who suggested a system to be drawn either from 
the sources of Tiber Creek or from Rock Creek. Nothing was 
done, however, towards the establishment of a general water 
system until 1850 when Congress appropriated $500 for a pre- 
liminary investigation. In 1852 Congress appropriated $5,000 
for a survey. In 1853 General Joseph G. Totten made a report 
to the Secretary of "War as to the relative cost and feasability 
of three alternative schemes ; one to obtain the water from Rock 
Creek ; another to obtain it from the Potomac River at the Little 
Falls, and a third to obtain it from the river at Great Falls. 
The latter plan was adopted. The work of construction was 
placed in charge of Captain Montgomery C. Meigs of the Engin- 
eer Corps of the Army. 

The ceremony of ground breaking for this work on November 
8, 1853, was quite elaborate. President Pierce attended with 
his cabinet at the scene near Great Falls, and turned the first 
spadeful of earth. Others who participated were Jefferson 
Davis, Secretary of War, Senator Douglas, Mayor John W. 
Maury, and Ex-Mayor W. W. Seaton. 

The completion of the work occupied about nine years, and 
involved an expenditure up to June, 1862, of $2,675,832.53. Most 
of the work was done under the supervision of Captain — after- 
wards General — M. C. Meigs. 

The length of the conduit from its beginning at Great Falls 



History of the City of Washington. 239 

to the north end of the Georgetown aqueduct is fourteen miles. 
Its construction involved the construction of Cabin John Bridge, 
famous as one of the longest single span arches in the world. 

In 1859 Congress empowered the corporations of Washing- 
ton and Georgetown to regulate the distribution of water within 
their respective limits and authorized Georgetown to borrow 
$50,000 and Washington $150,000 for the construction of mains. 

Following the passage of that act the Washington City 
Councils created the offices of Water Registrar and Water Pur- 
veyor, directed the construction under the direction of the latter, 
of a system of mains, and established a water code for the city. 
The water system received no material extension from that time 
until after the establishment of the permanent Commission gov- 
ernment in 1878. 

As early as January 12, 1803, an ordinance was passed 
directing the Mayor to cause lamps to be placed on the most 
public avenues and streets, to supply them with oil and to employ 
persons to attend to lighting them and keeping them in order. 
In 1830 it was ordered, in the interest of economy, that the 
lamps should be lighted only from the first day of December to 
the thirtieth day of April each year. 

The lighting of the city with gas was provided for in 1853. 
An ordinance passed June 3 of that year directed the Mayor to 
erect lamp posts upon the application of the owners of more 
than half the property in any portion of a street not less than 
a square, the cost to be borne by the property fronting on that 
portion of the street. 

The chief works of a public character in the early years of 
the city consisted in the completion of the Washington Canal 
and the reclamation of the low grounds lying between the canal 
and Pennsylvania Avenue. 

The canal which had been partially cut for drainage pur- 
poses by the original Commissioners was deepened and widened 
so as to permit of navigation, by the Washington Canal Com- 
pany, a corporation authorized by an act of Congress approved 
February 16, 1809. The canal was operated by this company 



240 History of the City of Washington. 

until 1831 when in anticipation of the construction of the 
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal it was purchased by the city for 
$50,000. The city greatly improved it by widening and deepen- 
ing, and by walling it with stone for the cost of which the city 
was reimbursed $150,000 by Congress. 

The reclamation of the low lands adjoining the canal on the 
north commenced in 1816 when $2,000 was voted by the Councils 
for filling between Pennsylvania Avenue and the Canal from 
7th to 12 Streets, the cost being assessed against the "squares 
which were overflowed by the tides." This canal began at a 
basin at 17th and B Streets, northwest, at the mouth of Tiber 
Creek, and extended thence east along B Street, north, to a 
point midway between 6th and 7th Streets, west; thence south 
to the center line of the Mall; thence east to 3rd Street west; 
thence south to Maryland Avenue ; thence southeast to the center 
of South Capitol Street ; thence south to a point midway between 
F and G Streets, south; thence southeast to near 2nd and K 
Streets, southeast, and thence to the Anacostia River or Eastern 
Branch. It was filled from Rock Creek to 17th Street and 
converted into a sewer from 17th Street to 3rd Street west, by 
the Board of Public Works. The remaining portions between 
3rd Street west and the Anacostia River were filled by the 
Board of Commissioners at a cost of $70,000 which was appro- 
priated by Congress in 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881 to give 
employment to laborers in the periods of industrial depression 
which then prevailed. 

In 1822 Congress authorized the city to sell certain public 
squares to raise funds for filling the low grounds on the borders 
of the Canal, and a board of four commissioners was provided 
for by ordinance to carry this law into effect. In 1823 the city 
appropriated $3,000 "for removing the nuisance which exists 
by the stagnant water and other sources of disease in that por- 
tion of the city lying between 7th and 12 Streets, west, and C 
Street north of the Canal," and $2,500 for filling the Center 
Market Square and forming a basin for the Canal at that point. 

In 1820 the construction of the City Hall — the present 
Court House — at the head of Four-and-a-Half Street was com- 



History of the City of Washington. 241 

menced. The plans were drawn by George Hadfield, who had 
been one of the superintendents in charge of the construction 
of the Capitol under the original Commissioners. Hadfield 's 
first plan was rejected as involving too great a cost, but he 
modified it so that on July 14, 1820, proposals were called for 
with the idea of constructing so much of the building as the 
commissioners in charge of the work might deem expedient. 
The cornerstone was laid on the 24th day of August, 1820, with 
elaborate ceremonies. The cost of the building was originally 
expected to be $100,000, and it was proposed to raise this sum 
by lottery. The affair was known as the National or Gillespie 
lottery, and is referred to elsewhere. It proved very disastrous 
to the city, owing to the defalcation of one of the managers. In 
1823, when the building was partly finished, Congress appro- 
priated $10,000 to complete a portion of it for the accommodation 
of the United States Circuit Court, and the Clerk, Marshal, 
records and juries connected therewith. The total cost of the 
building was $148,451.29, of which sum about $105,000 was 
reimbursed to the city by Congress in various ways, largely 
through the eventual purchase in 1873 of the building as a 
whole for the use of the United States Courts and appurtenant 
officials. 

The first attempt at street improvement under municipal 
control was an appropriation of $200 on November 19, 1802, for 
clearing and rendering passable Fourteenth Street from north 
F Street to the northern extremity thereof. The first cover for 
both carriageways and sidewalks was gravel. Later it became 
the practice to pave the gutters. 

About 1814 the municipality began the use of curbstones 
and foot pavements, with paving brick and stone cross-walks 
at intersections. 

In 1832 the United States Government macadamized Penn- 
sylvania Avenue between First Street and 15th Street under a 
contract with Hugh Stewart. This pavement remained until 
replaced by wooden blocks in 1870. 

The first paving of the carriageways appears to have been 
Seventh Street west from the south side of Virginia Avenue to 



242 History of the City of Washington. 

H Street north, under an act of the Councils of April 23, 1845, 
and in accordance with the general ordinances of the Councils 
of April 17, 1845, for paving with stone blocks not more than 
four inches square, under which the cost of such improve- 
ments was paid wholly by the abutting property, except at the 
intersection of streets and at alley openings where the cost was 
borne by the ward funds. 

Under an appropriation made in the civil and diplomatic 
appropriation law of August 31, 1852 (10 Stat. 94) and other 
laws, the carriageway of Pennsylvania Avenue from 17th Street 
to Rock Creek was paved with "round-stone." 

By an ordinance of June 5, 1863, establishing a general 
rule for paving carriageways, the abutting property on each 
side of a street was taxed with only one-third of the cost of 
paving carriageways. 

An ordinance approved May 7, 1869, legalized the "Smith 
and Burlew concrete (bituminous) pavement" for paving 
streets and sidewalks in the City of Washington whenever citi- 
zens preferred it to brick or stone as then provided by law. 

Under an ordinance approved September 7, 1869, the 
carriageway of Vermont Avenue between H and I Streets, 
northwest, was paved with coal tar concrete by George Scharff 
under his patent, at the sole cost of abutting property. This 
pavement was as good and lasting as any bituminous roadway 
of any patent or material ever laid in the District. 

Indiana Avenue for two or three blocks west of First Street 
west was paved in 1870 by the City of Washington with 
irregular blocks of Seneca sandstone, a sort of reddish stone 
from the shore of the Potomac a few miles above Great Falls. 

In 1870, Pennsylvania Avenue from First Street to 
Fifteenth was paved with various kinds of wooden blocks. This 
pavement, with frequent repairs, continued until 1876. In 1876 
and 1877 Pennsylvania Avenue was repaved by a commission 
appointed under Act of Congress, July 19th, 1876, consisting 
of two officers of the Engineer Corps of the Army and the 
Architect of the Capitol. The cost was divided among the 



History of the City of Washington. 243 

United States, District of Columbia, private property, and the 
street railroad whose tracks were upon it. 

The beginning of the sewer system of the city consisted of 
a twenty-two inch main on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue 
from Four-and-a-Half Street to Second Street, west, for which 
the sum of one thousand dollars was appropriated in 1829, the 
cost of the sewer being assessed against the property fronting 
on that portion of Pennsylvania Avenue. This and a number of 
other small sewers which were created from time to time 
emptied into the Tiber Canal. No comprehensive sewer system 
was attempted until the establishment of the Territorial Govern- 
ment in 1871. 

The early financial arrangements of the city included two 
interesting features, namely, a system of municipal lotteries, 
and a system of municipal due bills; both of which were long 
ago discontinued and have almost passed into oblivion. 

Lotteries with the approval of the President "for the effect- 
ing of important improvements in the city which the ordinary 
revenue thereof will not accomplish ' ' were authorized in amounts 
of not exceeding $10,000 in any one year by the charters of 
1812 and 1820. 

On November 23, 1812, a resolution was adopted by the 
City Councils to the effect that it was deemed expedient to raise 
$10,000 by lottery for building, establishing and endowing two 
public school houses on the Lancastrian system. On August 3, 
1814, a similar lottery to raise funds for the erection of a work- 
house and on May 10, 1815, one to raise funds for building a 
city hall were recommended. In 1816, 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820 
and 1821, resolutions were adopted recommending the holding 
of lotteries to raise $10,000 for the purposes of building, estab- 
lishing and endowing public schools, building a penitentiary or 
workhouse, and building a town house or city hall. 

By act of July 24, 1815, John Davidson, T. H. Gillis, A. 
Way, Jr., Moses Young, William Brent, Daniel Rapine and 
Samuel N. Smallwood were appointed managers of the three 
lotteries authorized up to that time for raising a total sum of 
thirty thousand dollars. On November 17, 1818, an ordinance 



244 History of the City of Washington. 

was passed authorizing the Mayor to appoint seven citizens to 
manage a lottery to raise a total sum of forty thousand dollars 
as provided for by the resolutions of 1816, 1817 and 1818. On 
January 4, 1827, an ordinance authorized the sale of the three 
pending lotteries, as well as any future ones to be authorized 
under the charter provision, the purchasers to assume the entire 
responsibility for the payment of the prizes. 

It was under this ordinance that the management of the 
lotteries was taken over by David Gillespie and others. Gillespie 
defaulted with the main prize of $100,000, and other amounts, 
and, the managers being unable to pay the prizes, the city was 
subjected to judgments aggregating upwards of $198,000. No 
further attempts were made to raise money by this method. 

The use of due bills as a medium of exchange grew out of 
the dearth of small change, to remedy which two ordinances 
were passed in 1814 authorizing the Mayor to issue due bills 
for sums of not less than one cent nor more than fifty cents in a 
total amount of not to exceed ten thousand dollars, redeemable 
in sums of not less than five dollars. In 1819 an issue of ten 
thousand dollars and in 1821 an issue of twelve thousand dollars 
in due bills in denominations of fifty cents, one dollar and two 
dollars, was authorized. In 1824, a measure was adopted pro- 
viding for the use of this medium for raising fourteen thousand 
dollars largely to be used in public improvements and in 1832 
an issue of fifteen thousand dollars was authorized to raise 
money for the general fund. 

The indebtedness of the city was chiefly represented by 
registered certificates commonly termed "stock," which were in 
the nature of unsecured bonds. 

In 1827 the city subscribed for one million dollars of the 
stock of the newly formed Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, 
and Georgetown and Alexandria each subscribed $125,000. The 
following year these three corporations authorized Richard Rush, 
who in addition to numerous other important offices had 
recently held that of Secretary of the Treasury, to negotiate a 
loan in Europe for paying up their subscriptions. Mr. Rush 
obtained a loan from the firm of Daniel Crommelin and Sons of 



History of the City of Washington. 245 

Amsterdam in 1829. The loan was bottomed upon the property 
of the city which by an act of Congress had been made subject 
to a tax for repaying it. The approaching maturity of this loan 
in 1835 threatened the city with bankruptcy and resulted in an 
appeal to Congress for aid. The report of the Senate Committee 
on the District of Columbia in connection with this appeal, 
signed by Senator Samuel Southard, of New Jersey, its chair- 
man, furnishes a graphic description of the financial situation of 
the city at the time. Mr. Southard says: 

"The city is involved in pecuniary obligations, from 
which it is utterly impossible that it can be relieved by any 
means within its own control, or by any exertions which it 
may make, unaided by Congressional legislation. Its actual 
debts now amount to the enormous sum of $1,806,442.59. 
* * * So perfectly exhausted have its resources become 
that it will very probably in a short time be driven to the 
surrender of its charter by neglecting to elect its corporate 
officers, and thus be left upon the hands of Congress to 
dispose of, govern, and sustain as may best suit their own 
views of what is proper for the capital of the Union. * * * 
A part of the engagements of the city, in relation to the 
stock which it holds in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, it is 
known to Congress, are of a kind which must be promptly 
satisfied or the property of the inhabitants exposed to sale 
in a few months under the orders of the Executive of the 
United States, and its creditors, who are foreign bankers, 
in all probability will become the owners of a great propor- 
tion of the property within the capital of the Union. " * * * 

Senator Southard's report is memorable by reason of its 
eloquent presentation of the cause of the city for recognition by 
the National Government of its obligation to share in the expense 
of maintaining the government of its Capital. 

In the course of his report Senator Southard advanced the 
proposition which in 1878 was definitely adopted as the basis of 
the financial relations between the National Government and 
the city as to street improvements, that "the narrowest measure 
of justice would have required, and does now require, that the 
Government having in its private building lots and public reser- 
rations at least an equal interest in the improvement of the 



246 History of the City of Washington. 

streets, should pay at least one-half of the expense of those 
streets. ' ' 

The result of Senator Southard's report was the passage 
by Congress of the Act approved May 20, 1836, authorizing the 
Secretary of the Treasury to assume on behalf of the United 
States the indebtedness of Washington, Georgetown and Alex- 
andria on account of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal loan upon 
the depositing with him by those cities of their holdings of stock 
in the Canal Company. The Secretary of the Treasury was by 
the Act given ten years in which to sell this stock under the most 
favorable terms for the purpose of reimbursing the United States 
the amount expended in taking up the loan. The passage of this 
Act, while it was a measure of vital relief to the residents of 
those cities, did not establish any permanent basis for contribu- 
tion by Congress towards the expenses of the Capital City. 

On May 31, 1871, the last day of the existence of the City 
of Washington as a separate municipality prior to the taking 
effect of the Territorial government, its debt was $5,237,533.87. 



CHAPTER VII. 



The Territorial Government; 1871-1874 

It was an inevitable result of the Civil War that the interest 
of the nation in its Capital should be keenly awakened. Almost 
immediately upon the close of that conflict, public sentiment 
was directed to the problem of placing the city in a condition 
fitting its character as the seat of the government of the reunited 
country. The consideration of this question was crystallized 
into law by the act approved February 21, 1871, creating the 
so-called "Territorial" Government, which provided that on 
and after June 1 of that year the corporations of Washington 
and Georgetown, and the Levy Court of the County of Wash- 
ington, which had jurisdiction over the portion of the District 
which was outside of those corporations, should no longer exist 
as such ; and that beginning with that date the entire District 
of Columbia should constitute a single municipality under the 
name of "The District of Columbia." It was the passage of 
this act which gave the National Capital its full municipal im- 
pulse. From this time forward the municipal history of the 
City of Washington is identical with that of the government 
of the District of Columbia. 

This legislation originated in the Senate by the introduction 
on February 25, 1870, by Senator Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, 
of Senate Bill 594, entitled "An Act to change the form of gov- 
ernment of the District of Columbia." This bill was reported 
with amendment March 18, 1870; discussed on May 27, and 
passed by the Senate on May 28 of that year. It then went into 
a long stage of hibernation until January 20, 1871, when it was 
taken up and discussed in the House. On the 23rd of January 
it passed the House with amendment. It went to a conference 



248 History of the City of Washington. 

committee whose report was adopted by the Senate on January 
24 and by the House on February 17, 1871. 

The new municipality consisted of a Governer; a Board 
of Public "Works composed of the Governor and four other per- 
sons; a Secretary; a Board of Health; a Legislative Assembly, 
consisting of a Council of eleven members and a House of 
Delegates consisting of 22 members, and a Delegate in the House 
of Representatives of the United States. 

The Governor, the Board of Public Works, the Secretary, 
the Board of Health, and the Council were appointed by the 
President of the United States, by and with the consent of the 
Senate. The members of the House of Delegates and the Dele- 
gate in the House of Representatives were elected by the qualified 
voters of the District of Columbia, whose qualifications are 
hereinafter described under the head of "Suffrage." The 
official term of the Governor, members of the Board of Public 
Works, the Secretary, and the members of the Board of Health, 
was four, years ; the term of the members of the Council and the 
Delegate to Congress two years, except that of those members 
of the Council first appointed, five were appointed for the term 
of one year, and six for the period of two years ; and the term of 
the members of the House of Delegates one year. The compen- 
sation for all of these officials except the members of the House 
of Delegates, was paid exclusively out of the United States 
Treasury. 

The general duties of the Board of Public Works were to 
have entire control of, and make all regulations which they might 
deem necessary for keeping in repair, the streets, avenues, alleys, 
and sewers of the city, and all other works which might be 
intrusted to their charge by the Legislative Assembly or Con- 
gress. Special requirements were imposed upon the Board from 
time to time by Congress and the Legislative Assembly. 

The Board had no power to make contracts to bind the Dis- 
trict to the payment of any sums of money except in pursuance 
of appropriations made by law, and not until such appropria- 
tions had been made. 

The law prescribed that the Governor should have resided 



History of the City of Washington. 249 

in the District twelve months before his appointment, and have 
the qualifications of an elector ; that the members of the Board of 
Public Works, except one who was required to be a civil engineer, 
should be citizens and residents of the District, having the 
qualifications of electors therein. One was required to be a 
resident of Georgetown, and another a resident of the portion of 
the District outside of Washington and Georgetown. It was 
provided that the Secretary should reside in the District and 
possess the qualifications of an elector; that the members of the 
Legislative Assembly should have the qualifications of voters, 
and the Delegate to the House of Representatives of the United 
States, should be a citizen of the United States and of the District 
of Columbia and have the qualifications of a voter. No qualifi- 
cations were prescribed for members of the Board of Health. 

The Governor was empowered to grant pardons and respites 
for offenses against the laws enacted by the Legislative Assembly 
and to commission all officers elected or appointed to office under 
the laws of said assembly. He was required to take care that the 
laws be faithfully executed and to approve bills passed by the 
Assembly or return them with his objections. He was not 
empowered to grant pardons or respites for offenses against any 
of the laws of Congress in force in the District, nor against the 
ordinances of the City of Washington, Georgetown or Levy 
Court. His salary was $3,000. 

Henry David Cooke, the first Governor, was born in San- 
dusky, Ohio, November 23, 1825, and died in Georgetown in the 
District of Columbia on February 24, 1881. He was graduated 
as an A. B. by Transylvania University, Kentucky, and was 
admitted to the bar of Sandusky and of Philadelphia. In 1845 
he was attache to the American Consul at Valparaiso, Chile. 
Subsequently he was a journalist. As representative of the firm 
of Jay Cooke & Co., he rendered inestimable service to the cause 
of the Union during the Civil War, by negotiating the sale of 
United States bonds in Europe. As Governor of the District of 
Columbia, he enthusiastically co-operated in the comprehensive 
measures undertaken by the Board of Public Works. His aid 
in giving his personal exertions and the influence of his name to 



250 History of the City of Washington. 

floating the bonds of the District, whose proceeds furnished the 
funds with which the Board of Public Works began its task, 
was essential to the success of those projects. 

He was an expert navigator and once navigated a ship from 
Cape Horn to San Francisco, when the Captain died. Gifted, 
generous, amiable, and irreproachable in every phase of his life, 
he worthily discharged the duties of his high office, and his 
responsibilities as a member of society. 

The duties of the Secretary were to record and preserve all 
laws and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, and acts of 
the Governor in his Executive Department, and to transmit 
copies thereof to the President and Congress of the United States. 
In case of the death, removal, resignation, disability or absence 
of the Governor from the District, the Secretary was vested with 
all powers and duties of the Governor's office. In the event of 
and during a vacancy in both offices of Governor and Secretary, 
those powers became vested in the President of the Council and 
Speaker of the House of Delegates in the order named. The 
Secretary's salary was $2,000. 

The first Secretary of the District was Norton P. Chipman, 
then a patent attorney, who was appointed to that office on 
March 2, 1871. When he was elected Delegate in Congress he 
was succeeded as Secretary on May 19, 1871, by Edwin L. Stan- 
ton, a lawyer, and the son of Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of 
War during the administration of President Abraham Lincoln. 
He was succeeded on September 22, 1873, by Richard Harring- 
ton, who was also a lawyer, and whose term expired with the 
abrogation of the office on June 20, 1874. 

Secretary Stanton was the only Secretary who had an oppor- 
tunity to serve as acting Governor, which capacity he filled 
several times. The most notable of those occasions was the 
calling of a special session of the Legislative Assembly which 
passed the Act of October 18, 1871, appropriating $100,000 for 
the relief of the people of Chicago who were suffering from the 
disastrous fire of that year. 

The Delegate in Congress was "entitled to the same rights 
and privileges as are exercised and enjoyed by the Delegates 



History of the City of Washington. 251 

from the several Territories of the United States to the House of 
Representatives. ' ' He was also to be a member of the Committee 
for the District of Columbia. 

Norton P. Chipman was the only Delegate. He was first 
elected on April 21, 1871, and re-elected on October 14, 1873, 
which was the date fixed by the Act of the Legislative Assembly, 
approved June 20, 1872, for holding the annual elections. He 
was continued in that position until March 4, 1875, pursuant to 
a proviso in the Act of- June 20, 1874, creating the temporary 
commission government. 

Although the charter of the new government did not become 
effective entirely until the first of June, 1871, the Board of 
Public Works, which was created by it, organized and began the 
preparation of plans of municipal engineering development in 
May of that year, pursuant to a grant of authority in the 
deficiency act of April 20, 1871. Other preliminary measures 
under that charter were taken by the Board of Health; and 
others in the election of the members of the House of Delegates 
and the Delegate in Congress. 

When the Territorial government was established, the offices 
of the Corporation of the City of Washington were housed in the 
City Hall at the north end of Four-and-a-Half Street. The Gov- 
ernor and the Board of Public Works deemed it advisable to 
discontinue the use of the City Hall as the municipal head- 
quarters in order to avoid the possibility of being associated in 
reputation with what at the time was called "the City Hall 
Ring." The result was that the Governor rented for his office 
the building at the northwest corner of Pennsylvania Avenue 
and Seventeenth Street, northwest. 

The Board of Public Works first met and organized in this 
building in May, 1871. At this meeting Alexander R. Shepherd 
was chosen Vice-President of the Board, though no such office 
was provided for by law. He acted as such until September 13, 
1873, when he was appointed Governor, vice Governor Cooke. 
The Board subsequently established its offices in the "Columbia" 
or "Morrison" Building, located on the west side of John 
Marshall place, then 4y 2 Street N. W., where it continued its 



252 History of the City of Washington. 

headquarters during its entire remaining existence. This build- 
ing was rented but the District authorities paid $57,787.18, or 
nearly what the entire building and site were then worth, in 
making alterations on it. 

The first members of the Board were Governor Henry D. 
Cooke who as Governor was ex-officio, President of the Board; 
Alexander R. Shepherd ; Samuel P. Brown ; Alfred B. Mullett, 
civil engineer and at the time the Supervising Architect of the 
Treasury, and James A. Magruder. Governor Cooke was 
appointed on February 28, 1871, and the others on March 16, 
following. Mr. Mullett resigned and was succeeded on January 
2, 1873, by Adolph S. Cluss, who was in turn succeeded by John 
B. Blake, on September 13, of the same year. Mr. Brown was 
succeeded by Henry A. Willard on May 22, 1873. Mr. Shepherd 
was appointed Governor of the District of Columbia on Septem- 
ber 13, 1873, but no appointment was made to the vacancy in 
the Board thus created. 

The first election for members of the House of Delegates 
of the District of Columbia and of a Delegate to the House of 
Representatives of the United States was held on Tuesday, the 
20th of April, 1871. The law creating the Territorial govern- 
ment prescribed that the election should be held within sixty 
days after its passage. The election was held in accordance with 
that law and the rules and regulations prescribed by the Gover- 
nor and Judges of the Supreme Court of the District of 
Columbia, acting under a requirement thereof. The Governor 
and Judges also appointed a board of registration and persons 
to superintend the election and returns thereof, prescribed the 
time, places and manner in which such election was conducted 
and divided the District of Columbia into twenty-two election 
Districts, for the election of delegates to the House of Delegates 
for a term of service of one year, "giving to each section of the 
District representation in the ratio of its population as nearly 
as may be. ' ' An apportionment was also required to be made ' ' as 
nearly equal as practicable, into eleven districts, for the appoint- 
ment of the Council," but no such apportionment was made, 
although two of the members of the Council were appointed from 



History of the City of Washington. 253 

Georgetown and two from the portion of the District of Columbia 
outside of Washington and Georgetown, as required by Section 
5 of the Act. 

The first meeting of the Council and House of Delegates, of 
the Legislative Assembly, was held on the 15th day of May, 1871, 
at 12 o'clock M., in the "Metzerott Hall Building," on the north 
side of Pennsylvania Avenue, between Ninth and Tenth Streets, 
northwest, in pursuance of the proclamation of the Governor, 
dated April 25, 1871, which was issued in accordance with the 
provisions of the fifth section of the act. 

The Territorial government, by the terms of the law creating 
it, went into operation on June 1, 1871. On June 20 the Board 
of Public Works submitted to the Legislative Assembly estimates 
for improvements amounting in the aggregate to $6,578,397, to 
pay for which they recommended a bond issue of $4,000,000 and 
an assessment of $2,000,000 against the property specially bene- 
fitted. On July 10, the Legislative Assembly passed an act 
appropriating $4,000,000 for the improvements recommended by 
the Board of Public Works and authorizing an issue of twenty- 
year seven per cent, bonds for the purpose of obtaining a loan 
of this amount. 

A number of citizens applied to the Equity Court of the 
District for an injunction against the issuance of these bonds. 
The injunction being granted by Judge Andrew Wylie, the 
Legislative Assembly, on August 11, 1871, passed a supplemental 
act appropriating $500,000 for the purpose of avoiding the tech- 
nical objections raised by the applicants for the injunction, 
and work was at once commenced. The injunction was subse- 
quently dissolved, and by a later act the Legislative Assembly 
reduced the amount of the appropriation by $500,000, thus 
making the total appropriation $4,000,000, as originally con- 
templated. 

Pending the action of the Court, the Legislative Assembly 
passed another Act on August 19, 1871, submitting the question 
to the people at an election to be held November 22, 1871, at 
which the issue of $4,000,000 of "special improvement" bonds 



254 History of the City of Washington. 

and payment of interest thereon was approved by an over- 
whelming majority. 

The proceeds of these bonds, with the authority granted by 
the act of the Legislative Assembly, approved August 11, 1871, 
for the Governor to anticipate the collection of taxes to the 
extent of $500,000, and the authority in the 37th section of the 
Act of February 21, 1871, creating the Territorial government, 
to assess upon property adjoining and especially benefitted by 
an improvement not more than one-third of the cost of such 
work, constituted the resources with which the Board of Public 
"Works began its tremendous task of converting the village-like 
status of the streets of Washington into a condition which should 
be appropriate to the highways of the Capital of a great Nation. 
When the Territorial government was established Washing- 
ton was just emerging from the stage of an overgrown country 
town into metropolitan responsibility. Nearly all of the streets 
were dirt roadways. Where these were improved they were 
rudely covered with gravel, from which, in dry weather, clouds 
of dust arose with the breezes or from the passing vehicles, and 
many of the streets were almost impassable in times of heavy 
rains. The few that were improved with a more durable surface, 
excepting the portion of Pennsylvania Avenue which was paved 
with wood, and the square on Vermont Avenue between H and I 
Streets which was paved by Mayor Bowen with coal tar concrete, 
were paved with the roughest of cobble or other irregularly 
shaped stones, destructive alike to the vehicles which traveled 
upon them, and to the nerves of those by whom these vehicles 
were occupied. As late as the fall of 1871, a fire engine was 
stalled up to the hubs in the soft roadway, in an effort to mount 
the short rise on 11th Street, between E and F Streets, northwest. 
Fire apparatus was occasionally obliged to travel on the side- 
walk, in responding to alarms in unusually wet weather. The 
paved sidewalks were few and confined to the thickly built 
sections. 

Tiber Creek ran from the boundary to the old canal along 
B Street as an open sewer with a brick arch across it at Penn- 
sylvania Avenue, and rude wooden bridges at other points. The 



History of the City of Washington. 255 

Washington canal was another open sewer, exposing a festering 
mass at low tide, and a scum covered surface when the water 
was high. 

Through the northwestern parts of the city flowed Slash 
Run, and in other sections were other water courses, all of which 
were open sewers. Hundreds of acres in the extreme northwest 
were covered by Slash Run Swamp, whose nightly vapors ren- 
dered the bordering heights tenantable only at risk of malarial 
fevers. There was no systematic street tree system established, 
nor street parking of any sort. 

On January 2, 1873, the Governor and Board of Public 
Works represented to Congress that $150,000 would be a fair 
value of the District's interest in the old City Hall. They were 
supported in this effort by the judges of the Supreme Court of 
the District, who submitted a statement showing that the Court 
needed all the room in the building. 

On March 3, 1873, Congress adopted the following proviso 
in the deficiency appropriation act of that date : 

"For the purchase by the United States of the interest 
of the District of Columbia in the present City Hall build- 
ing in Washington, now used solely for Government 
purposes, such sum as may be determined by three impartial 
appraisers, to be selected by the Secretary of the Interior, 
not exceeding $75,000, the same to be applied by said Dis- 
trict only for the erection of a suitable building for the 
District offices; and the Governor and Board of Public 
Works are authorized, if they deem it advisable for that 
purpose, to make arrangements to secure sufficient land 
fronting on Pennsylvania and Louisiana Avenues, between 
Seventh and Ninth Streets; provided that the Government 
of the United States shall not be liable for any expenditure 
for said land, or for the purchase money therefor, or for the 
buildings to be erected thereon, and no land or the use 
thereof is hereby granted for the purpose of erecting any 
building thereon for such purpose." 

On March 18, 1873, an agreement was made between the 
Washington Market Company and the Board of Public Works 
to transfer as a site for a suitable building under that appropri- 
ation all the title of that company to the portion of the 



256 History of the City of Washington. 

reservation at the intersection of Seventh Street and Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue, between the buildings of said company and 
Pennsylvania Avenue. In consideration of this concession, the 
District authorities agreed to reduce the annual franchise rental 
for the relief of the poor which that company was required to 
pay by its charter, from $20,000 to $7,500. This rental had 
previously been reduced from $25,000 to $20,000 by an Act of 
the Legislative Assembly, approved August 23, 1871, as follows : 
"Be it resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia, That the Governor be authorized and 
required to act as one of the commissioners of the "Washing- 
ton Market Company, under the resolution of Congress, 
approved December twenty, eighteen hundred and seventy; 
and that he be requested to procure such alterations in the 
plan of the buildings to be erected by said company as shall 
transfer the proposed hall from Ninth Street wing to the 
main building on Pennsylvania Avenue, and also to secure 
a reduction from twenty-five thousand dollars to twenty 
thousand dollars of the annual rental required to be paid 
by said company, and which is now assessed by the company 
upon the stall-holders." 

The validity of the reduction in the franchise rental to 
$7,500 was determined in favor of the Market Company, in 
D. C. v. Washington Market Company (3 MacArthur 559), and 
D. C. v. Washington Market Company (108 U. S. 243). 

The $75,000 appropriated to be applied in erecting a new 
building appears to have been paid to the treasurer of the Board 
of Public Works on the 27th day of August, 1873, in two install- 
ments, one of $25,000, and the other of $50,000. Five thousand 
dollars of this money was kept intact for the purposes for which 
it was appropriated, except such of it as was used to make a 
slight excavation for the new building on the site referred to. 
The remainder appears to have been used by the Board of Public 
Works in the prosecution of municipal street improvements, and 
the specific object of its appropriation protected, as the treasurer 
of the Board of Public Works testified before the Congressional 
committee of investigation, by the deposit in the bank, under the 
orders of said Board, of $80,000 in sewer certificates which 
were then worth about fifty cents on the dollar. After the Board 



History of the City of Washington. 257 

of Public Works was abolished these sewer certificates were 
invalidated by the Act of Congress of June 20, 1874, which 
abolished the Territorial form of government, and were subse- 
quently cancelled, leaving the District with nothing but a site 
with a small excavation in it and the unexpended balance of the 
$5,000, to show for the $75,000 it had received to commence the 
erection of a City Hall. 

The treasurer of the Board testified that the Board used the 
money because it deemed it better to pay its debts to contractors 
with it, than to use for that purpose the sewer certificates which 
would bear eight per centum interest. 

Among the features which were introduced by the Board 
of Public Works, was a public convenience station at the inter- 
section of 7th Street and Louisiana Avenue where the monument 
to the organizer of the Grand Army of the Republic now stands ; 
but public sentiment had not then become educated to the 
importance of the subject, and the station was removed by the 
successors of that Board in deference to public ridicule. 

Although most of the work done by the Board of Public 
Works has disappeared through defects due to haste and experi- 
mental construction, and replacement to meet later requirements, 
except the grading of the streets, a few of the larger sewers, and 
the street tree system which was installed under the sagacious 
supervision of the parking commission appointed by the Board 
of Public Works, consisting of three experienced arborists, 
William R. Smith, John Saul and William Saunders, public sen- 
timent has justly crowned the general result with approval. 

The Legislative Assembly so far as its relation to the Board 
of Public Works was concerned was a subservient agency of that 
body. That relation was necessary, as both public sentiment and 
the President of the United States, to whom the Assembly was 
officially responsible, fully recognized that notwithstanding the 
faults of detail in the struggle to physically rehabilitate the 
National Capital, the national reputation was largely dependent 
upon the continuance of the work upon which the Board of 
Public Works was engaged. 

The last Legislative Assembly enacted only one law. That 



258 History of the City of Washington. 

was hastily passed on the last day of its existence, and provided 
for the payment of the salaries of the members of the House of 
Delegates, and the subordinate officials of both the House and 
Council. The compensation of the members of the Council was 
provided by appropriation by Congress. 

While among the members of the Legislative Assembly a 
few were not above reproach, they as a rule were competent, 
public spirited and honorable public representatives. 

Some of them received, in the same spirit in which they had 
provided for their compensation, the information that the act of 
June 20, 1874, which ended their official existence, had passed, 
and forthwith began to appropriate to their own use the desks, 
chairs aud other articles which their fancy led them to select as 
souvenirs of their recent official estate. 

The Secretary to the Governor was at the time in his office 
at Seventeenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, and to him 
as the only one having any semblance of executive authority, the 
old colored watchman at the Legislative Assembly Hall came 
almost breathless with the exclamation, "Doctor Tindall! they's 
a-stealin' the Legislative Hall!" After the Secretary learned 
the full meaning of his errand, he told him to hurry to the 
Superintendent of Police and tell him to have the depredations 
stopped. 

He started with the message, but somehow the marauders 
got wind of his mission, and when the police reached the scene 
of distribution, the conscience-stricken relic-hunters had returned 
or were returning their plunder, and the affair had assumed 
more of the appearance of a donation-party than the pilfering- 
bee which was in full blast when the faithful messenger left for 
help. One of those who was found flagrante delictu was a noted 
local politician who had slipped down his trousers' leg one of 
the official feather dusters which he could not "all conceal;" 
and he not only had to return it, but became the butt of the 
newspaper jesters of the times, and the occasion of the derisive 
nom-de-plume of "Feather-duster legislature," which will ever 
distinguish the last phase of the suffrage times. 

It was said that one of the worthies who was elected to this 



History of the City of Washington. 259 

legislature received the votes of a number of men who were not 
on the registration list ; that a few minutes before the closing of 
the polls in one of the precincts in his district he learned from 
one of the trusty helpers whose appointments he had secured as 
superintendents of election, that about fifty persons had not 
voted. Nearly all of these were Democrats who would not vote 
with negroes. He got a sufficient number of colored men who 
were working under a District contractor nearby, to vote under 
the names of the fastidious Democrats. In some cases the 
Democrats called to vote, later in the day, but were astonished 
when informed by the election officials that they had already 
voted. In a few instances tardy Republicans were served in 
the same manner. 

It used to be related of this member that when any one 
asked him to introduce or support a measure which proposed to 
involve an appropriation, he would ask the applicant, "How 
much of the hair on this dog is for me?" 

It was a common practice in those days, to import from the 
tidewater Potomac regions of Maryland and Virginia, boat loads 
of negroes for voting purposes. On one of these trips one of the 
most notorious managers of these personally conducted trips 
was a light colored negro named Tom Bowie, who fell off the 
barge and was drowned. 

A recital of the progress made under the Territorial govern- 
ment would be deficient without some account of the notable 
work accomplished by the Board of Health during that period. 

The Board of Health first met on April 6, 1871, and organ- 
ized on the 13th of that month, and proceeded upon the 
performance of its duties, which were prescribed by the act 
creating it to be "to declare what shall be deemed nuisances 
injurious to health, and to provide for the removal thereof ; to 
make and enforce regulations to prevent domestic animals from 
running at large in the cities of Washington and Georgetown ; 
to prevent the sale of unwholesome food in said cities, and to 
perform such other duties as shall be imposed upon said board 
by the Legislative Assembly. ' ' 

The first members were N. S. Lincoln, M. D. ; Tullio S. 



260 History of the City of Washington. 

Verdi, M. D. ; Henry A. Willard ; John M. Langston ; and John 
Marbury, Jr., all of whom were appointed March 15 of that 
year. Dr. Lincoln resigned on the 22nd of that month and was 
succeeded on the 3rd of April by Christopher C. Cox, M. D. 
Mr. Willard declined to accept his appointment, and Dr. D. 
Willard Bliss was appointed on May 23, 1871, in his stead. No 
other changes were made in the personnel of the Board until 
November 10, 1877, when Robert B. Warden succeeded Mr. 
Langston, who had resigned. Mr. Langston was a light com- 
plexioned colored man of general culture and exceptional 
oratorical talent. 

When the Board of Health was created, the facilities for the 
collection and disposal of garbage and other refuse were as crude 
and unsatisfactory as the other primitive features of municipal 
management. Garbage was fed to hogs in hog pens in almost 
every section of the city. Cowsheds also lent their influence to 
pollute the air. Chickens, geese, goats, cows and other cattle 
roamed at large in many localities. The scavenger service 
offended both sense and sentiment, and filled the night air with 
noisome odors, and the most noxious kinds of offal and refuse 
were daily dumped on the surface of the commons. 

During the four years and two months of its existence, the 
Board performed a revolutionary and enduring service in the 
public behalf by eliminating most of the insanitary conditions 
and practices whose abatement fell within its purview; and 
placed the National Capital in the van of the cities of the world 
in matters of municipal hygiene. Practically all of its policies 
are yet standard guides so far as they apply. 

This Board continued until July 9, 1878, when pursuant to 
Section 8 of the law of June 11, 1878, creating the permanent 
Commission government, it was abrogated by the appointment of 
Doctor Smith Townshend as Health Officer. 

It is worthy of note that the conduct of this branch of the 
Territorial government was not criticised by the Committee of 
the House of Representatives which investigated in 1872 the 
government of the District of Columbia, nor by the Joint Select 
Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives which 



History of the City of Washington. 261 

made a like investigation in 1874 and recommended the abolition 
of all of the features of that government except the Board of 
Health. 

The dominant character of the Territorial epoch was Alex- 
ander Robey Shepherd. Concerning the part played by him the 
following expressions from the report of the Allison Committee, 
to be presently referred to, are eloquent : 

' ' The 9th day of October, 1871, the board clothed the vice- 
president with authority as follows : 

''Ordered, That the vice-president of this board shall be 
the executive officer thereof; he shall be in attendance at 
the office of the board daily, between 1 o'clock p. m. and 4 
o'clock p. m., to receive all persons having business with the 
board, and to dispose of such applications as may need 
immediate attention; he shall sign all orders of the board, 
and submit at each session thereof an abstract of all business 
transacted by him since the preceding meeting. It shall also 
be his duty to have all papers properly briefed and prepared 
for consideration by the board, and generally to arrange its 
business in proper shape for action; he shall see that the 
reports of the different officers are promptly made, and 
orders to them shall be issued through him ; he shall require 
that the various officers properly perform their respective 
duties, and may dismiss any employe of the board, subject 
to its approval. 

"All requisitions for work or material must be approved 
by him, said requisitions to specify the particular improve- 
ment for which it is needed, and the nature of the work for 
which it is to be used. He shall also perform such other 
duties as may, from time to time, be required of him by the 
board. 

"Pursuant to this authority, for no other seems to have 
been relied upon, the vice-president ultimately came to be, 
practically, the board of public works, and exercised the 
powers of the board almost as absolutely as though no one 
else had been associated with him." 

Governor Shepherd was born in the City of Washington, on 
January 31, 1835, in a frame house situated on the south side 
of G Street between 9th and 10th Streets, southwest, on parts 
of lots 26 and 27, in Square 390. This building has since been 



262 History of the City of Washington. 

incorporated as part of a new one which is now designated as 
No. 926 G Street, southwest. 

His father whose Christian name was Alexander, was small 
in size but an intelligent, energetic and successful business man. 
His mother's maiden name was Susan Davidson Robey. She 
was large and strong in person and correspondingly apt and 
forceful in mind. He obviously came fitly by his distinctive 
physical and mental powers. 

His earlier education was acquired under a private tutor. 
He later attended Nourse's School on the south side of Indiana 
Avenue, between 3rd Street and John Marshall Place, and after- 
wards had the advantage of a short term at Columbian College 
then located on the west side of 14th Street Road a short distance 
north of what is now Florida Avenue. 

His practical business life commenced as an employee of Mr. 
John W. Thompson, who was then the leading contractor for 
plumbing and gasfitting in the District. He succeeded Mr. 
Thompson in that occupation, but in addition thereto became 
influential in banking circles, and a dominant factor in other 
lines of business, as is attested by numerous buildings still 
existing which were constructed through his enterprise. 

When the Civil War began, he and his brother, Thomas M., 
enlisted on April 15, 1861, for three months, as privates in the 
company commanded by Captain John R. Smead, 3rd Batallion, 
District of Columbia Volunteers, and remained in that service 
until the term of enlistment expired. 

Soon after his discharge from that military service, he 
became conspicuous in local public affairs. He was elected a 
member of the 59th, 60th and 61st Common Councils of the City 
of Washington, in June, 1861, 1862, and 1863, respectively. He 
was President of the 60th Council. He was elected a member of 
the Board of Aldermen in June, 1870. Mr. Crosby S. Noyes, 
who was one of his colleagues in the Common Council, often 
referred admiringly to the versatility of Mr. Shepherd in the 
performance of his duties in that body. The mutual friendship 
and respect which that association engendered continued through 
the lives of both. No man could have a more unassailable certifi- 



History of the City of Washington. 263 

eate of sterling qualities of character, than that he was the 
cherished companion and confident of such men as Mr. Noyes, 
Mr. Louis C. Clephane, and of Mr. ¥m. F. Mattingly who was 
his intimate life-long friend. He was appointed in 1867 a mem- 
ber of the Levy Court of the County of Washington, D. C. 

He was married on January 30, 1862, to Miss Mary Grice 
Young, a daughter of Colonel William P. Young of this City. 
They had ten children, three of whom died in infancy. 

He died at the city of Batopilas, in the State of Chihuahua, 
Mexico, at 7 :45 A. M., September 12, 1902, as the result of an 
operation for appendicitis. His body arrived at the railroad 
station on the southwest corner of 6th and B Streets, northwest, 
a few minutes before 8 o'clock on the morning of May 4, 1903, 
and was escorted on that date to the New York Avenue Presby- 
terian Church, where obituary services were held at 4 P. M. of 
that day. 

He is buried at Rock Creek Cemetery in the District of 
Columbia. 

As Governor, Mr. Shepherd made no material changes in 
the policy or methods of administering the District government, 
but was principally occupied in avoiding embarrassments in the 
conduct of the District's official business due to the inadequacy 
of the revenue which had been entailed by the demands for funds 
to meet the cost of executing street improvements. 

His failure to control the complex conditions of his environ- 
ment exemplified again that all men have their limitations ; that 
greatness is a myth and that achievement is restricted to adven- 
titious opportunity. 

Ambition goads our powers, but to gain 
Visions of heights we strive to reach — in vain. 
The most we can achieve tends but to prove 
The vanity of Pride. Life's goal is love. 
His subsequent career was principally as a resident of 
Mexico engaged in the business of mining. During the years 
he was in public life, as a member of the Board of Public Works 
and as Governer, his official duties monopolized his time and 
energies to such an extent that his private business and fortune 
were practically sacrificed, so that he was obliged to begin his 



264 History of the City of Washington. 

private business anew. He chose to accept the opportunity to 
engage in business in Mexico, which then presented the most 
promising field for his energies. He revisited the District of 
Columbia twice; the second time in 1887, and on the 6th of 
October of that year reviewed from a stand south of the Treasury 
Department Building, an imposing demonstration by the people 
of the District in his honor. 

His merits were heroic. His failings those of superabundant 
physical strength and its temptations, and the ruthless impulse 
which is usually a concomitant of effective ambition in official 
or business life. 

Whose eye is fixed upon the mountains head, 
Recks not the gowan 's rights beneath his tread, 
Justice nor sentiment ; nor praise nor blame, 
Divert his steps, where Lust aspires to Fame. 

He judged men by their merits alone. As an employer in 
private business as well as in public affairs, he was ever zealous 
to recognize and reward attentive and efficient service, but 
language could not provide him with expletives sufficiently 
numerous or intense to express his disapproval of careless or 
unfaithful performance of duty. 

Like all successful leaders he owed much to tact. 

As a friend he was devoted, considerate, constant and lib- 
eral to a fault; as a companion he was ideally unconventional, 
genial, jovial and democratic. Although a vindictive enemy, he 
did not go out" of his way to indulge his animosities. In no sense 
a temperance man, he was neither an intemperate one nor a 
glutton. While he was too sensible to be a practical joker, he 
was promotive of joviality at all social gatherings, as he was a 
leader in other affairs of life ; but on staid occasions, he displayed 
an inherent dignity upon which no frivolity or assurance cared 
to presume. 

As a host he was ideal. The humblest guest received as 
considerate attention as the most consequential. In this as in all 
other phases of his social and domestic relations, he was grace- 
fully assisted by the consummate tact and kindliness of his 
accomplished wife. 



History of the City of Washington. 265 

The temerity of his resolution, and the intrepidity by which 
it was sustained, were typically illustrated in the peremptory 
removal, by his orders, of the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio 
Railroad from First Street, west, where they had been laid and 
used as military necessity, but without warrant of law, during 
the Civil War. This line of track extended from Long Bridge 
at the southern terminus of Maryland Avenue, along that avenue 
to First Street, west, then to Indiana Avenue, and thence to the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station at New Jersey Avenue and 
C Street, northwest, and obstructed the work of improving the 
streets. When it is considered that Mr. John W. Garrett, the 
then President of that road, was at that time one of the most 
potent influences in the political and financial world, the 
audacity of that act, although in the discharge of a public duty, 
was a phase of moral grandeur. 

Not less decisive was the destruction of the old Northern 
Liberty Market House at the intersection of New York and 
Massachusetts Avenues, northwest, where the Public Library 
Building now stands. This was accomplished during the even- 
ing of September 3, 1872. During the progress of the 
demolition of this structure two of the dealers went into it to 
secure their property and were accidentally killed there. 

In both cases prompt action became necessary by the immi- 
nence of injunction proceedings which might have indefinitely 
delayed the progress of improvements. In fact, the constant 
threat of interference by the courts or by Congress was the 
stimulus to the feverish haste with which all of the work of the 
Board of Public Works was done, and a leading cause of its 
consequent expensiveness for which the Board is often 
reproached. 

There were other giants of those days who were associated 
with Governor Shepherd in his great work. His case is no 
exception to the rule that the Hero's wreath which history- 
weaves, is largely twined with laurels gathered through the 
thought and toil of others. But he pre-eminently possessed the 
talent and power for leadership. The responsibility and guid- 
ance were his, and public opinion has justly attached to the 



266 History of the City of Washington. 

name of Governor Alexander Robey Shepherd, the dominant 
fame of effecting the improvements in the physical status of the 
National Capital which terminated the efforts for its removal, 
and started it on the way to become a stimulus to the patriotic 
pride of every American and an object of universal admiration. 

It is regrettable that the statue erected in his honor in 
front of the Municipal Building, and dedicated on May 3, 1909, 
represents him at an age when physical decay had begun to 
depict its inroads upon his countenance, and the symmetry of 
his person had become impaired by corpulence. The work to 
which he owes his celebrity was performed from his 36th to his 
39tft year, when he was ideally comely in person, with a broad 
forehead which does not appear in his statue, and which was 
the most impressive feature of his countenance. 

His statue should show him at the height of his physical 
and mental powers, as they were during his terms as Vice- 
President of the Board of Public Works and Governor; an 
Apollo in form, a giant in strength, with the lineaments of an 
able and dominating mind, illumined by a kindly, steadfast soul. 

On January 22, 1872, a memorial signed by 1,000 citizens 
and taxpayers was presented to the House of Representatives, 
charging the Board of Public "Works and other officials with 
extravagance and mismanagement. It was referred to the Com- 
mittee on the District of Columbia. The Committee made a 
lengthy investigation which resulted in a majority and a minority 
report (H. R. Report No. 72, 42nd Congress, 2nd Session). The 
former was signed by H. H. Starkweather, Chairman, and six 
other members of the Committee, and was strongly in favor of 
the policies and acts of the defendants, and summed its opinions 
as follows: (page XIII, Investigation 1872.) 

"In passing upon the conduct of the gentlemen compris- 
ing the board of public works, whose high character is 
already known to the people of the District, and in finding 
all charges of corruption, misconduct, or serious mismanage- 
ment not proved, the committee do not wish to be understood 
as asserting that they have not made mistakes. The new 
government has but recently been organized. There was a 
universal demand for extensive improvements during the 



History of the City of Washington. 267 

first season, which the board naturally determined to 
attempt to comply with. But the injunction sued out against 
their proceedings, together with the early, cold, and long 
winter, were unforeseen obstacles, which rendered it impos- 
sible to fully carry out the plans for 1871. 

"On the other hand, however, it must be remembered 
that the District has realized the benefit of a very favorable 
negotiation of its four million loan, at a rate advantageous 
in itself, and which has raised the credit of the District to 
a high point, as shown by the negotiation of its water- 
bonds at par. The governor and members of the board are, 
on the whole, entitled to the favorable judgment of Con- 
gress, and are to be commended for the zeal, energy, and 
wisdom with which they have started the District upon a 
new career of improvement and prosperity ; and the District 
itself is entitled to fair and generous appropriations from 
Congress, in some manner corresponding to the valuation 
of the property owned by the United States." 
The minority report was signed by Robert B. Roosevelt and 

John M. Crebs, and concluded with the following suggestions: 

(Page XX, ibid.) 

"Without going further into the facts which we believe 
the evidence sustains, we have arrived at the conclusion 
that the powers assumed and exercised by the board of pub- 
lic works are dangerous to the best interests of the District, 
and that the reckless extravagance of all departments of 
the District government ought to be checked ; and while we 
do not feel authorized to recommend an entire change of 
government for the District, (as the present one is an experi- 
ment only, as yet,) but we feel assured that all officers of 
the government should be made directly responsible to the 
people for their acts. We therefore recommend the adoption 
of the following resolution : 

"Resolved, That the Committee on the District of Colum- 
bia be, and they are hereby, instructed to report forthwith 
to the House a bill so changing the organic act as to make 
all the officers elective by the people, except the governor; 
and requiring the board of public works to give bond and 
security for the faithful performance of their duties, and 
placing them directly under legislative control. And that 
until said act can go into effect and a board elected, that 
they be by law prohibited from drawing any money from 
the District treasury; but that payments shall be made by 



268 History of the City of Washington. 

warrants on the treasury, as contemplated in the thirty- 
seventh section of its organic act ; and that they be required 
to furnish quarterly statements of all expenditures made 
by them, giving the name of the person to whom paid, and 
for what purpose, which report shall be made to the treas- 
urer of the District and be open for public inspection." 
Early in 1874, in compliance with a petition of W. W. Cor- 
coran and many other leading property owners in the District, 
who charged the officers of the District government with unlaw- 
ful conduct, extravagance and mismanagement, a Joint Select 
Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives was 
appointed by a resolution which originated in the House of 
Representatives on February 2, 1874, and was concurred in by 
the Senate on the 5th of that month, and consisted of Senators 
William B. Allison, Allen G. Thurman, and Wm. M. Stewart; 
and Representatives Jeremiah M. Wilson, Jay A. Hubbell, 
Lyman K. Bass, H. J. Jewett and Robert Hamilton, to investi- 
gate the conduct and efficiency of the Board of Public Works 
and other features of the District government. 

The investigation conducted by this Committee showed a 
complicated and apparently insolvent condition of affairs which 
seemed to call for a readjustment of the municipal situation by 
disinterested hands. The Committee made a report on June 16, 
1874, in the course of which it said : 

"Your committee, therefore, recommend the abolition of 
the executive, the secretary of the District, the legislative 
assembly, the board of public works, and the office of Dele- 
gate in Congress. They do not mean, by recommending the 
abolition of the legislative assembly, to preclude the idea 
that there should not be some representative body in the 
District of Columbia; but they believe the one now existing, 
ivith the powers conferred, is not such a one as is contem- 
plated by the Constitution, or as the wants of the District 
require; and, inasmuch as the next assembly will be elected 
before the next session of Congress, they think it unneces- 
sary to incur the expense of electing a legislative assembly, 
which, if not abolished now, would likely be abolished at the 
next session. From what has already been said, we think it 
clear that the board of public works, as now organized, has 
powers, or at least has exercised powers, that ought not to 



History of the City of Washington. 269 

be co mm itted to any body or board. The committee have 
permitted the present Delegate in Congress to continue until 
the close of the next session, in order that the District might 
have a representative on the floor to make such criticisms 
as he might deem necessary upon the form of government 
which they have raised a committee to provide for and 
report upon. 

"The committee recommend the appointment of a com- 
mission to manage the affairs of the District, under limited 
and restrained powers, because there is not sufficient time 
to prepare a proper system of frame-work for the govern- 
ment of the District, and have it fully discussed and passed 
upon at the present session of Congress. The committee 
have placed the repair, improvement, and control of the 
streets under the management of an officer of the Engineer 
Corps of the Army, because they believe, under such officer, 
whatever work is done will be well done, and by an officer 
responsible to the Executive and to Congress. ' ' 
******** 

"Your committee have unanimously arrived at the con- 
clusion that the existing form of government of the District 
is a failure; that it is too cumbrous and too expensive; that 
the powers and relations of its several departments are so 
ill denned that limitations intended by Congress to apply 
to the whole government are construed to limit but one of 
its departments; that it is wanting in sufficient safeguard 
against maladministration and the creation of indebtedness ; 
that the system of taxation it allows opens a door to great 
inequality and injustice, and is wholly insufficient to secure 
the prompt collection of taxes; and that no remedy short 
of its abolition and the substitution of a simpler, more 
restricted, and economical government will suffice. Your 
committee have, therefore, reported a bill for a temporary 
government, until Congress shall have time to mature and 
adopt a permanent form." 

The recommendations of the Committee were embodied in 
a bill abolishing the Territorial government and providing for a 
temporary form of government to wind up its affairs. It further 
recommended the appointment of a committee to devise a perma- 
nent form of government for the District and submit the same 
at the next session of Congress, this committee to settle and 
determine also the proportion of expenses to be borne by the 



270 History of the City of Washington. 

District and United States respectively. The report also recom- 
mended an audit of the finances of the District with a view of 
funding its indebtedness into a bond payable at a remote period 
and bearing a low rate of interest. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



The Temporary Commission Government; 1874-1878 

The recommendations of the Allison Committee were put 
into effect by the speedy passage of the Act of Congress, ap- 
proved June 20, 1874, which abolished the Territorial form of 
government and provided for a Commission of three members 
to be appointed by the President of the United States by and 
with the consent of the Senate. This Commission was to exercise 
much the same power and authority as had been vested in the 
Governor and Board of Public Works under the Territorial 
government. To co-operate with and assist the Commission, the 
President was by this act authorized to detail an officer of the 
Engineer Corps of the Army who, under the general supervision 
of the Commissioners, was to have control of the engineering 
work of the municipality. 

The first three Commissioners appointed and confirmed 
under this law were "William Dennison, of Ohio, John Henry 
Ketcham, of New York, and Henry T. Blow, of Missouri. 
President Grant nominated Alexander R. Shepherd as one of the 
temporary Commissioners, but the Senate refused to confirm 
the nomination, deeming it advisable to administer the new 
policy by new agents. 

Commissioner Dennison had been governor of Ohio during 
the greater part of the Civil "War, and near the close of the war 
had been appointed by President Lincoln to be Postmaster 
General, in which capacity he served through part of President 
Johnson 's term. As District Commissioner under the temporary 
government he served from July 1, 1874, to July 1, 1878. 

Commissioner Ketcham was born in Dover, N. Y., December 
21, 1832. He served two terms as town supervisor, member of 
the State Assembly and State Senator and entered the Union 



272 History of the City of Washington. 

Army as Colonel of the 150th New York Volunteer Infantry, 
being promoted in 1862 to Brigadier General and after the close 
of the war being brevetted Major General. He was elected to 
Congress from New York, to serve in the 39th, 40th, 41st, 42nd 
and other Congresses until his death which occurred in New York 
City, November 4, 1906. He took office as District Commissioner 
on July 3, 1874, resigning June 30, 1877, in order to be a 
candidate for re-election to Congress. 

General Ketcham was forceful, physically and mentally, and 
during his service as a Commissioner, dominated the manage- 
ment of the affairs of the District Government through the 
energetic, thorough and constant attention which he gave them. 
It was fortunate for the District that an administrator so well 
equipped, so resourceful and devoted to his task, had been 
entrusted with the complicated and responsible duty of bringing 
order out of the municipal chaos which existed at the time of his 
appointment. 

Commissioner Blow was born in Southampton County, 
Virginia, July 15, 1817. He removed to Missouri in 1830 and 
was graduated from St. Louis University, afterwards serving 
four years in the State Senate of Missouri. In 1861 he was 
appointed Minister to Venezuela, from which post he resigned in 
less than a year. He was elected to Congress from Missouri in 
1862 as a Republican, and re-elected in 1864, serving also as a 
delegate to the Baltimore Convention in the latter year. From 
May 1, 1869, to February 11, 1871, he represented the United 
States as Minister to Brazil. He went into office as District 
Commissioner July 1, 1874, but owing to ill health resigned 
December 31, 1874, his death occurring September 11, 1875, at 
Saratoga, New York. 

The Engineer officer detailed to assist the Commission was 
Lieutenant Richard L. Hoxie, who had been named by the Presi- 
dent and confirmed by the Senate as engineer officer with the 
Board of Public Works a few days prior to its abolishment. He 
met once or twice with the Board but took no part in its official 
proceedings. He acted as such assistant to the temporary board 
of Commissioners, form July 2, 1874, until July 1, 1878. 



History of the City of Washington. 273 

Lieutenant Hoxie, who afterwards become Brigadier General 
Hoxie, of the Corps of Engineers of the United States Army, 
was bom in New York, and removed during his youth to Iowa. 
He served in the First Iowa Cavalry during the Civil "War, and 
on July 1, 1864, entered the United States Military Academy 
from which he was graduated on June 15, 1868. 

This Commission held its first meeting on the afternoon of 
Saturday, July 3, 1874, in the H Street parlor of what was then 
the Arlington Hotel at the northwest corner of H Street and 
Vermont Avenue. At that meeting the Commissioners appointed 
William Birney assistant attorney and Dr. William Tindall 
Secretary. Among those present and advising the Commissioners 
was Senator Allen G. Thurman of Ohio. 

The afternoon of that day is memorable for the violent 
tempest which occurred towards evening doing immense damage 
to trees and houses. 

The Commissioners held their sessions at the Arlington on 
the 6th, 7th and 8th of July; on the 9th in the office of the 
former Governor, located in the second story of the building at 
the northwest corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, 
northwest, and thereafter in the building called the Columbia 
Building or Morrison Building on the west side of John Marshall 
Place, then Four-and-a-Half Street, three doors above Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue. 

Commissioner Blow's term under the temporary govern- 
ment was completed by Captain Seth Ledyard Phelps, a native 
of Ohio, and a graduate of the Naval Academy, who had served 
with credit in the Mexican War and in connection with the Chili 
Astronomical Survey. During the Civil War he was assigned to 
the command of a gunboat in the western river flotilla where he 
made the friendship of General Grant. After the war Captain 
Phelps became President of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company 
and in connection with its affairs spent several years in China 
and Japan, returning to America and resigning his position 
with the Company in 1873. He entered upon his duties as 
temporary Commissioner on January 18, 1875. 

Commissioner Phelps was of a genial, generous tempera- 



274 History of the City of Washington. 

ment, and was by nature and training well equipped for the 
admirable service which he rendered during his term of office. 

An interval of five months elapsed following the resignation 
of General Ketcham before his successor took office. This was 
due to the determined opposition, led by Mr. William Birney, to 
the confirmation of Judge Thomas B. Bryan who was nominated 
by President Hayes for the position. Judge Bryan's nomination 
was, nevertheless, finally confirmed, and he took office on Decem- 
ber 3, 1877, and held until July 1, 1878, when the permanent 
Board succeeded to the duties of the temporary Board. 

Judge Bryan was a lawyer, linguist and author of national 
reputation, but had little opportunity during his brief term of 
office to render any noteworthy service in his official capacity. 

Pursuant to the recommendations of the Allison Committee, 
Section 6 of the Act creating the temporary Board of Commis- 
sioners provided for a Board of audit to consist of the first and 
second Comptrollers of the Treasury of the United States. The 
function of this Board was to audit for settlement the unfunded 
or floating debt of the District, including that incurred by the 
Board of Public Works, and to issue to creditors whose claims 
should be established, certificates of indebtedness which were to 
be convertible by the Sinking Fund Commissioners created by 
the seventh Section of the Act into bonds bearing 3.65 per cent 
interest, payable in fifty years and guaranteed by the faith of 
the United States. 

The principal function of the temporary Board of Commis- 
sioners was to close up the affairs of the Board of Public Works 
and put them on a systematic basis. Incident to the accomplish- 
ment of these purposes, it was necessary for the Commissioners 
to complete and in some cases to extend the contracts made by 
the Board of Public Works in order to prevent deterioration of 
work partially done. Under their alert and judicious adminis- 
tration, the District also developed normally in all branches of 
its government. 

Section 5 of the act creating the temporary form of govern- 
ment provided for a joint select committee to consist of two 
Senators and two Ex-Representatives whose duty it should be to 



History of the City of Washington. 275 

prepare a suitable form of government for the District with 
proper drafts of statutes to be enacted by Congress to carry it 
into effect. This Committee was also to submit a statement of 
the proper proportion of the expenses of the District which 
should be borne by the District and by the United States 
respectively. 

On December 7, 1874, the joint committee, through its 
Chairman, Senator Lot M. Morrill of Maine, made a majority 
report (No. 479, 43d Congress, 2d session), accompanying Senate 
Bill No. 963, which contemplated a department of the United 
States Government strictly limited to the affairs of the District, 
at the head of which should be a board of general control, desig- 
nated the Board of Regents. This Board was to consist of three 
members to be appointed by the President, which should have 
power to appoint such subdivisions and bureaus of the municipal 
government as should be necessary, except as to the Board of 
Education, part of whose members were to be elective. 

On January 11, 1877, Senator Spencer, of Alabama, sub- 
mitted a minority report (No. 572, 44th Congress, 2d session), 
which recommended the creating of a local government to be 
derived from the free suffrage of the people of the District. 

Neither of these reports was adopted. So well did the tem- 
porary Commission accomplish the ends for which it had been 
created that when Congress came to consider the establishment 
of a permanent government the main features of the temporary 
Commission were adopted, and a permanent Board of three 
Commissioners to be appointed by the President, two from civil 
life and one from the Engineer Corps of the Army, was provided 
for. This action on the part of Congress was in a great measure 
the result of the influence of a volunteer committee of one 
hundred citizens who by united and organized effort did much 
towards inducing Congress to enact the much needed legisla- 
tion; but more especially of the earnest public spirited efforts 
of Honorable J. C. S. Blackburn of Kentucky, who had charge 
of the measure in the House of Representatives. 

In less than two years after the temporary board of Com- 
missioners had assumed its duties, it too became the object of 



276 History of the City of Washington. 

an investigation by the Committee of the House of Representa- 
tives on the District of Columbia, which propounded a series 
of interrogations as to the manner in which those duties had 
been discharged. 

This investigation related principally to the manner in 
which the Commissioners had adjusted the number and compen- 
sation of official personnel with regard to the most economical 
service, and the extent and authority for work under extensions 
of contracts of the board of public works. These questions the 
Commissioners answered in full on April 4th and 10th, 1876, 
and obviously to the refutation of any direct or implied impu- 
tation upon their honor or judgment, as Congress took no action 
adverse to them in the matter. 

The Board of Audit was also investigated pursuant to a 
resolution of the House of Representatives adopted on January 
31st, 1876. The result of this investigation was the summary 
repeal on March 14, 1876, of the law establishing that board, and 
the transfer of all of its records to the custody of the Com- 
missioners. 



CHAPTER IX. 



The Permanent Commission Government; 1878. 



The act creating the permanent Board of Commissioners 
was approved June 11, 1878. This act declared that all the terri- 
tory ceded by the State of Maryland for the permanent seat of 
Government of the United States, should "continue to be desig- 
nated as the District of Columbia," and that the District of 
Columbia should "remain and continue a municipal corpora- 
tion." 

By the terms of this act the two civil members of the Board 
of Commissioners were required to have been residents of the 
District for three years next preceding their appointment. Their 
salary was fixed at $5,000 per annum. The first appointment 
was to be one Commissioner for one year and one for two years, 
after which their successors were to be appointed for three 
years. The Engineer Commissioner was required to be above 
the rank of Captain, though later, in order to make possible 
the appointment of Captain William T. Rossell, then one of the 
Assistants to the Engineer Commissioner, the law was amended 
to permit of the appointment, as Engineer- Commissioner, of a 
Captain in the Corps of Engineers who had held that rank tor 
fifteen years. The salary of the Engineer Commissioner when 
the position was first created, was to be the same as his regular 
pay as an officer in the Army but was later fixed at $5,000. 

The act of Congress which provides for the appointment of 
a Captain, as Engineer Commissioner, was approved December 
24, 1890. 

Representative — afterwards Senator — Joseph C. S. Black- 
burn, of Kentucky, who was the Chairman of the committee which 
prepared the draft of the Act creating the permanent Commis- 
sion government, inserted in the draft a clause directing that the 



278 History of the City of Washington. 

Commissioners to be appointed from civil life should belong to 
different principal political parties; but President Hayes, 
through Representative — afterwards President — Garfield, re- 
quested Mir. Blackburn to omit this requirement as it would be 
in the nature of a reflection upon the President's impartiality. 
Mr. Garfield orally assured Mr. Blackburn that the President 
would be governed by the policy indicated in the intended 
proviso, and on the strength of that assurance Mr. Blackburn 
withdrew the objectionable clause from the bill. 

This Act gives the Commissioners plenary powers, under 
certain prescribed regulations, in administering the affairs of 
the District, except so far as they may be controlled by Congress. 
It abolished the Board of Metropolitan Police and transferred 
all its powers to the Commissioners. It abolished the Board of 
School Trustees and provided for the transfer of its functions 
to a board of nineteen persons to be appointed by the Commis- 
sioners. By a subsequent Act jurisdiction over the public 
schools has been placed in the Board of Education of nine 
members, three of them to be women, appointed by the Judges 
of the Supreme Court of the District. The "Organic Act" 
abolished the Board of Health and transferred its duties to a 
Health Officer to be appointed by the Commissioners. 

The Act, in addition to defining the general powers and 
duties of the Commissioners and establishing the details of the 
District Government, provided that after the Commissioners had 
in each year submitted their estimates of the work proposed to be 
undertaken and of the cost of the government during the ensuing 
fiscal year, Congress should, to the extent to which it should 
approve the same, appropriate the amount of fifty per centum 
thereof and that the remaining fifty per centum should be 
assessed upon the taxable property and privileges in the District 
other than the property of the United States and of the District 
of Columbia. 

The incorporation of this provision was in large measure 
due to the activities of the committee of one hundred previously 
mentioned, a subcommittee of which submitted to Congress on 
November 21, 1877, an address signed by J. M. Wilson, Joseph 



History of the City of Washington. 279 

Casey, C. F. Peck, Joseph Shillington, S. V. Niles, Josiah Dent, 
W. S. Cox, C. B. Church, B. G. Lovejoy, W. H. Clagett, W. W. 
Corcoran, S. H. Kauffman, W. M. Dixon, A. Y. P. Garnett, L. 
A. Gobright, M. W. Gait, A. T. Britton, Thos. P. Morgan and 
Win. Stickney. 

This address concluded with the following passage : 

"As in the beginning, the Federal City was without 
population or resources to which its founders could look for 
its development and improvement, so also, at the present 
time, it is wholly without means, either of wealth or 
industry, to meet the enormous outlays, necessitated by the 
magnificence of its plan. It has no business except what is 
based upon the wants of its citizens and of the government 
service ; one-half of its property, and the best half, is owned 
by the United States, and pays no taxes ; and the other half 
is now mortgaged for more than one-fourth of its value by 
the debt contracted in exhausting and paralyzing efforts to 
make it what its patriotic founders designed it to be, a 
National Capital, worthy of the name it bears. Several 
millions of dollars are now required to renew its decayed 
and almost impassable streets. Where shall its already over- 
burdened taxpayers look for aid and relief except to the 
Congress of the United States? From the facts here pre- 
sented, the inference is plain that the United States and 
our own taxpaying citizens, as part owners or tenants in 
• common, are bound, respectively, to contribute a just and 
equal share of the funds necessary to develop and improve 
the common property; and that the United States, having 
exclusive and absolute title to the streets and avenues of 
the city as well as to the public grounds and buildings, 
(which alone give value to the property of citizens), and 
being clothed by the Constitution with plenary and exclusive 
power of control and administration, the Government is 
under special obligation to furnish its share. 

"It is equally clear, that the taxpayers of the District 
have already and in fee simple contributed more than their 
equal share of these improvements. Will not the Govern- 
ment, with equal fidelity to its high trusts, discharge the 
obligations required alike by its Constitutional relations to 
the District, and by justice to its citizens?" 
The chief credit, however, for the determination of Congress 
to recognize a liability on the part of the National Government 



280 History of the City of Washington. 

for one-half the cost of the government of the Capital City was 
the report of the Committee on Judiciary of the House of Repre- 
sentatives submitted by its Chairman, Mr. Luke Poland, on 
June 1, 1874. 

While the Allison Committee had been investigating the 
Board of Public Works the House Committee on Judiciary had 
been directed to inquire into and report upon the legal relations 
between the Federal Government and the local government of 
the District, and the extent and character of the mutual obliga- 
tions in regard to municipal expenses; and further to inquire 
and report whether some accurately defined basis of expendi- 
tures could be prescribed and maintained by law. 

The report of this committee ranks with the report made 
by Senator Southard in 1835, as a classic in its appreciation 
and presentation of the responsibilities of the National Govern- 
ment towards its Capital. 

After reviewing the conception of the founders of the city 
as evidenced by the "observations" set forth in L 'Enfant 's plan, 
the report continues: 

"The committee believe there can be no question, in lay- 
ing out such a city as is here described, that it was fully 
contemplated by Government that the extent of expenditures 
would keep pace with the magnificence of the plan to be 
ultimately carried out. The founders of the capital city 
evidently did not believe that in their time this plan could 
be consummated, but they were establishing the permanent 
seat of government. It was as the Supreme Court said in 
Van Ness vs. The City of Washington : ' The grants were 
made for the foundation of a Federal city, and the public 
faith was necessarily pledged when the grants were accepted 
to found such a city.' And again in the same opinion, 'that 
the city was designed to last in perpetuity — capitoli immo- 
bile saxum.' 

"The Federal city was to be a temple erected to liberty, 
toward which the wishes and expectations of all true friends 
of every country would necessarily be directed ; and, consid- 
ered under such important points of view as evidently 
controlled the minds of the founders, it could not be calcu- 
lated on a small scale. Everything about it was to 
correspond with the magnitude of the object for which it 



History of the City of Washington. 281 

was intended. It foresaw a far distant future when it was 
to be the center of a continent under one form of govern- 
ment looking to it for its laws and for its protection. It 
was to be a city where all improvements made and expenses 
incurred were to be for the benefit of the whole people. 

' ' Viewing the capital city in this national aspect, we may 
well understand the motives which governed its founders in 
imposing upon all who were to come after them such duties 
and responsibilities toward it as would be peculiar to the 
capital city alone, and which would fully justify a liberal 
if not a munificent policy in expenditures. 

"As to the mutual obligations of the Federal Govern- 
ment and the citizens to defray these expenses, the committee 
find little difficulty. It is clear, if this national capital was 
founded for the use of the United States, and was placed 
under its exclusive government and control, and upon a 
scale of magnificence appropriate only for a national capital, 
it never could have been contemplated that the burden of 
expenditures should fall upon those citizens of the United 
States who might temporarily or permanently take up a 
residence at the capital. Originally we know there was no 
population here to which the Government could look for 
contributions toward these expenditures ; and as the city 
was not to become one of trade and commerce and manufac- 
tures, the local population could not be looked to in the 
future as being sufficient, either in numbers or wealth, to 
carry out the magnificent intentions of the founders. Nor, 
indeed, would it have been just to impose this burden upon 
them; for, upon the theory upon which the capital was 
founded, all these expenditures would ultimately be for the 
benefit of the whole people, and justice would dictate that 
the burden should fall upon the whole people." 
As to the basis of contribution between the United States 

and the District toward the expense of the local government, the 

report says : 

"Aside, then, from all questions of sentiment or patriot- 
ism or pride in the national capital, your committee are 
impressed with the belief that the Federal Government sus- 
tains at least such relation toward the citizens and the local 
government as would require it to contribute to municipal 
expenses an amount bearing the relation to the whole 
amount required, which the interest of the Federal Govern- 
ment here bears to the interest of the local government : and 
this they believe to be at least one-half." 



282 History of the City of Washington. 

The Act of June 11, 1878, is commonly referred to as the 
"Organic Act" or "Constitution" of the District. In the case 
of Eckloff v. D. C. (135 U. S. 240) Mr. Justice Brewer, speaking 
for the Supreme Court of the United States, applies both of 
those terms to it, saying : 

' ' The Court below placed its decision on what we conceive 
to be the true significance of the Act of 1878. As said by 
that court, it is to be regarded as an organic act, intended 
to dispose of the whole question of a government for this 
District. It is declared by its title to be an Act to prove 'a 
permanent form of government for the District. ' The work 
permanent is suggestive. It implies that prior systems have 
) been temporary and provisional. As permanent it is com- 
plete in itself. It is the system of government. The powers 
which are conferred are organic powers. We look to the 
Act itself for their extent and limitations. It is not one act 
in a series of legislation, and to be made to fit into the 
provisions of the prior legislation, but it is a single complete 
Act, the outcome of previous experiments, and the final 
judgment of Congress as to the system of government which 
should obtain. It is the constitution of the District, and its 
grants of power are to be taken as new and independent 
grants, and expressing in themselves both their extent and 
limitations. Such was the view taken by the court below, 
and such we believe is the true view to be taken of the 
statute. ' ' 

When the "Organic Act" went into effect on July 1, 1878, 
President Grant re-appointed Commissioner Seth L. Phelps, who 
had been a member of the temporary Commission, and added 
Josiah Dent, as civil Commissioner and Major William J. Twin- 
ing, as Engineer Commissioner, to complete the Board. 

'---~- 7 i.„. 

Commissioner Dent was a native of Maryland who removed 
to the District after the war and married the daughter of Mr. 
E. M. Linthicum, taking up his residence in Georgetown. He 
was a lawyer by profession and served actively as a member of 
the Citizens' Committee of One Hundred to secure legislative 
justice from Congress. His term as Commissioner extended from 
July 1, 1878, to July 17, 1882. 

Commissioner Twining was born at Indianapolis, Ind., and 
was graduated from the Military Academy July 1, 1859. He 



History of the City of Washington. 283 

was brevetted Captain on December 16, 1864, for gallant and 
meritorious services in action during the siege of Nashville, 
Major and Lieutenant Colonel of Volunteers on January 26, 
1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the campaign in 
Georgia and Tennessee, and Major General on March 3, 1865, 
for gallant and meritorious services during the war. He resigned 
his volunteer commission August 30, 1865, was made Captain of 
Engineers, December 28, 1865, and Major, October 16, 1877. 
The service of Commissioner Twining, the first of the Engineer 
Commissioners, terminated with his death on May 5, 1892. 

He was succeeded by Major Garrett J. Lydecker who served 
from May 11, 1882 to April 1, 1886. Commissioner Lydecker 
was born in "English Neighborhood," New Jersey, November 
15, 1843. He was graduated from the United States Military 
Academy in 1864 and was brevetted captain on April 2, 1865, 
for gallant and meritorious services in the seige of Petersburg, 
and after the Civil War he was engaged in river and harbor 
work at Galveston, Michigan City, New Orleans, Chicago and 
Detroit. 

Major Lydecker was succeeded by Col. ¥m. Ludlow whose 
term commenced April 1, 1886 and terminated January 27, 1888. 

Commissioner Phelps served until November 29, 1879, on 
which date he was succeeded by Thomas P. Morgan, who served 
until March 8, 1883, and was in turn succeeded by James B. 
Edmunds, who served from March 3, 1883, to April 1, 1886. 
Commissioner Edmunds was succeeded by Samuel E. Wheatley 
whose term began on April 1, 1886, and ended May 21, 1889. 

Commissioner Morgan who succeeded Commissioner Phelps 
was born near Alexandria, Virginia, then a part of the District, 
on November 2, 1812. He was elected to the Common Council 
of the City of Washington in 1847 and to the Board of Alder- 
men in 1851, and again to the Common Council from 1859 to 
1861. During the Civil War he held the position of Quarter- 
master's Agent in charge of transportation, having been fitted 
for that duty by his previous connection with the business of 
water transportation. From March 21, 1873, to March 22, 1878, 
he served on the Board of Fire Commissioners as the representa- 



284 History of the City of Washington. 

tive of the United States Government under appointment by 
the President. He was appointed Major of Police February 2, 
1878, and held that office until November 29, 1879, when he 
resigned to take the office of District Commissioner. 

Commissioner Edmunds was born in Saratoga County, New 
York, in 1833. He practised law a short time in Oswego, New 
York, and then moved to Iowa City, Iowa, where he practised 
law for twenty years. He came to Washington in 1878. 

Commissioner Wheatley was born in Washington City, 
March 29, 1844. He was educated at HallowelPs High School in 
Alexandria, Virginia. At the age of twenty he went into the 
lumber business with his father and with his three brothers 
took charge of the business on his father's retirement in 1866. 
He was for some time President of the Potomac Boat Club and 
active in the Episcopal Church. 

Commissioner Dent served one term of one year and a second 
term of three years, his last term expiring July 17, 1882. He 
was succeeded by Joseph R. West, who held office from July 17, 
1882, to July 22, 1885. Commissioner West was succeeded by 
William B. Webb whose term began on July 22, 1885, and ended 
with that of Commissioner Wheatley on May 21, 1889. 

Commissioner West was born at New Orleans, La., Septem- 
ber 19, 1822. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, 
served in the Mexican War as Captain of Volunteers and moved 
to California where he engaged in newspaper work in San 
Francisco. At the outbreak of the Civil War he entered the 
Union Army as Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st California Infan- 
try. He was brevetted Major General January 4, 1866, for 
faithful and meritorious service. After the War he moved to 
Texas and later to New Orleans. He was elected to the U. S. 
Senate as a Republican, serving from March 4, 1871, to March 
3, 1877. He held office as District Commissioner from July 17, 
1882, to July 22, 1885. He died in Washington City October 
31, 1898. 

Commissioner Webb was born in Washington City in 1825. 
He was graduated from Columbian (now George Washington) 
University in 1844, and three years later, at the age of twenty- 



History of the City of Washington. 285 

two, he was admitted to the bar. In 1861 he became Superin- 
tendent of Police and devoted some years to organizing the 
police force of the city. 

On May 21, 1889, Commissioners Webb and Wheatley were 
succeeded by John W. Douglass, whose term expired February 
28, 1893, and Lemon G. Hine, whose term expired September 
30, 1890. 

Commissioner Douglass was born in Philadelphia, October 
25, 1827. He was admitted to the bar at Erie, Penn., about 1850. 
From 1862 to 1869 he was Collector of Internal Revenue for 
the 19th Pennsylvania District. During the years of 1869 to 
1875 he was First Deputy and Commissioner of Internal Reve- 
nue. Thereafter he engaged in practice of law in Washington 
until taking office as Commissioner. 

Commissioner Hine was born at Berlin Heights, Ohio, April 
14, 1832. He studied law at Ann Arbor, Michigan, until the 
outbreak of the Civil War when he enlisted in the Northwest 
Rifle Regiment, afterwards 44th Illinois, and served through the 
War. After the War he came to Washington and formed a law 
partnership with former governor of Ohio Ford and later with 
Mr. Sidney T. Thomas. He served in the City Council for 
several terms. Later he became interested in typesetting 
machinery and in 1887 retired from practice to take the presi- 
dency of the National Typographic Association. 

Commissioner Ludlow was born on Long Island, New York, 
November 27, 1843, and was graduated from the Military Acad- 
emy June 13, 1864. On July 20, 1864, he was brevetted Captain 
for gallant and meritorious services in laying a bridge over 
Peach Tree Creek, Georgia, under severe fire. He was brevetted 
Major, December 21, 1864, for gallant and meritorious service 
in the campaign through Georgia and Lieutenant Colonel March 
13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious service in the campaign 
in the Carolinas. He took a conspicuous part in the Cuban 
Campaign of 1898, being promoted to the rank of Major General 
of Volunteers for gallant services at Santiago. He died August 
30, 1901, of illness contracted in the line of duty in the Philip- 
pine Islands. 



286 History of the City of Washington. 

Col. Ludlow was succeeded by Major Charles W. Raymond 
who served from January 27, 1888 until February 3, 1890, and 
who was succeeded by Lieut. Colonel Henry M. Robert whose 
term extended from February 14, 1890 to October 14, 1891. 

Commissioner Raymond was born at Hartford, Connecticut, 
January 14, 1842. He was graduated from the United States 
Military Academy June 23, 1865. He was active in various river 
and harbor improvement undertakings in various parts of the 
country previous to his appointment as Engineer Commissioner 
of the District. 

Lieut. Col. Henry Martyn Robert was born in South Caro- 
lina. He was graduated from the Military Academy July 1, 
1857, and served throughout the Civil War in the Union Army. 
He was retired March 2, 1901, being then Brigadier General and 
Chief of Engineers. He has been justly accorded a large degree 
of prominence as the author of ' ' Robert 's Rules of Order. ' ' 

The period covered by the terms of the Commissioners who 
have just been enumerated extended from the establishment of 
the permanent Commission Government, roughly to the begin- 
ning of the decade from 1890 to 1900. 

To these early Boards of Commissioners fell the task of 
carrying to completion the work of improvement which had been 
so vigorously begun by the Board of Public Works, and prac- 
tically the replacement of all the wood pavements laid by that 
Board, with more durable material. 

Chief among the notable public works undertaken during 
the early years of the permanent Commission government were 
the extensions of the sewer and water systems of the city. 

In 1879 work was begun on the New York Avenue sewer. 
This sewer, starting at Seventh Street and New York Avenue, 
follows New York Avenue to 15th Street; thence down 15th 
Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, and from there cuts diagonally 
across the White Lot to 17th and B Streets, where it empties 
into the Tiber sewer. 

In 1880 the Northeast Boundary sewer was commenced. 
Beginning at 7th Street and Florida Avenue this sewer follows 
Florida Avenue to 15th Street, northeast; thence down 15th 



History of the City of Washington. 287 

Street to G Street, northeast; thence eastward to the neighbor- 
hood of 18th and E Streets, northeast, where it empties into the 
Eastern Branch. This sewer occupied about six years in its 
construction. 

The Q Street sewer was constructed in 1885 and runs from 
17th and Q Streets, northwest, westwardly along Q Street to 
Rock Creek. 

The Northwest Boundary sewer was constructed in 1887 
and runs from 14th Street and Florida Avenue, northwest, west- 
wardly along Florida Avenue to a point on Rock Creek near 
the P Street bridge. 

The execution of this extensive sewer extension work in so 
short a period of time was rendered possible by an appropriation 
of $500,000 by Congress in 1884. This appropriation was in the 
nature of an advance conditioned upon the repayment by the 
District of its one-half, with interest, in annual instalments of 
not less than $50,000 each. Its procurement was chiefly due 
to the influence which Commissioner Edmunds had acquired with 
Congress. Under this appropriation a total of seventeen miles 
of sewers, large and small were constructed. 

The extension of the water system of the city had been 
made the subject of an investigation by Lieutenant Hoxie under 
the temporary Commissioners. On May 27, 1878, he made a 
report recommending the construction of an accumulating reser- 
voir to be located on the heights north of the city, which should 
be connected by tunnel with the distributing reservoir at George- 
town. As a temporary expedient to increase the water supply 
of Capitol Hill, Lieutenant Hoxie recommended the erection of 
an iron stand pipe of 120,000 gallons capacity in the middle of 
16th Street extended, upon the brow of Meridian Hill, to be 
supplied by means of a pumping station to be located on U 
Street between 16th and 17th Streets, northwest. 

Both of these recommendations were adopted. The stand 
pipe and U Street pumping station were established in the spring 
and summer of 1878. This stand pipe was removed on Febru- 
ary 8, 1894. 

Work on the construction of the Seventh Street reservoir 



288 History of the City of Washington. 

back of Howard University and the tunnel connecting it with 
the Distributing reservoir in Georgetown was begun under the 
supervision of Engineer Commissioner Lydecker. The tunnel 
was cut mainly through solid rock and the muffled detonations 
of the blasting operations incident to its construction were for a 
long time a feature of life in the then suburban portions of the 
northwest section of the city. 

A matter of pressing importance with which the permanent 
Commissioners were required to deal was the replacing of the 
old wooden pavements with permanent paving of an improved 
character. Of the original area of 1,005,231 square yards of 
wooden paving, about 480,000 square yards remained, but this 
for the most part was impassable. So urgent was the need for 
new pavements that it was made the subject of a special report 
to Congress by the first permanent Board. 

In 1885, the Commissioners, in view of the success of the 
$500,000 sewer appropriation of the previous year and of the 
fact that the District then had a large sum to its credit in the 
United States Treasury, asked in their report for a similar 
advance of one million dollars for street improvements which 
were then urgently needed. An appropriation of this character 
would have meant much to the city at that time, but Congress 
could not be prevailed upon to grant it. 

The first permanent Board in its annual report for the 
fiscal year 1878 included an interesting statement of the amounts 
contributed by the several municipalities in the District of 
Columbia for their expenses as compared with the amounts con- 
tributed by the National Government, from 1800 to 1876. This 
statement shows : 
Aggregate amount (of assessments on property 

in the City of Washington) as reported $32,007,255.70 

Add collections for licenses, rents, etc 4,078,626.12 

Add water department rents 626,838.92 

Add expenditures by Georgetown + 3,500,000.00 

Add expenditures by county 2,000,000.00 

Add expenditures by Alexandria prior to 1846, 



History of the City of Washington. 289 

date of retrocession to Virginia 1,250,000.00 

Add outstanding District funded debt 8,363,400.00 

Add outstanding 3.65 bonds - 13,743,250.00 

Total expended by the people of the District $65,569,370.74 

Deducting the amount of the bonded debt above stated from 
$65,569,370.74 there still remains an absolute paid-up expendi- 
ture, as follows: 

By the people of the District of Columbia $43,462,720.74 

Expended by the United States - 27,311,950.00 

During the years 1878, 1879, 1880 and 1881, the Commis- 
sioners under authority of special acts of Congress, spent 
approximately $80,000 in filling the old Washington Canal from 
Third Street, west, to its mouth on the Eastern Branch, the 
canal from Third Street to its western mouth having been con- 
verted into a sewer by the Board of Public Works. The filling 
of the eastern end by the Commissioners was done largely to 
give employment to the large number of unemployed persons 
resulting from the financial depression then prevailing through- 
out the country. 

A matter of importance which came to the attention of the 
early Commissioners was the establishment of a station so located 
as to permit both branches of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 
road to enter the city over one line. Looking with an almost 
prophetic vision some thirty years into the future, the report 
for 1878 says: "It is entirely practicable to unite these two 
lines outside the city and bring them in upon one line of street 
to a station somewhere north of Massachusetts Avenue." The 
same report advocated the removal of the Baltimore and Potomac 
Depot from its old location on 6th and B Streets to a position 
south of the Mall. The idea of a union station for all steam 
railroad lines seems to have been first suggested in the report 
for 1885. 

The most important legislative measure affecting the Dis- 
trict adopted during the decade from 1880 to 1890, was an Act 
of Congress approved August 27, 1888, to regulate the sub- 
division of land within the District of Columbia, which provided 



290 History of the City of Washington. 

that ' ' No future subdivision of land in the District, without the 
limits of the Cities of Washington and Georgetown, should be 
recorded in the Surveyor's Office of the District, unless made in 
conformity with the general plan of the City of Washington." 
This law also prescribed that the Commissioners should make 
and publish general orders to regulate the platting and sub- 
dividing of all lands in the District, and that no plats should 
be admitted to record in the Surveyor's Office without the Com- 
missioners' written order to that effect. 

This legislation was especially due to the efforts of Mr. 
Joseph Paul and Senator John Sherman. 

Several efforts were later made to obtain legislation to 
correct the irregular subdivisions, which had been made in the 
near environs of the city. While their attempts were not suc- 
cessful, they so directed attention in the need of such action, 
that the Washington Board of Trade appointed a committee to 
secure legislation on the general subject of Street Extensions 
over the entire District outside of Washington and Georgetown. 
The labors of this committee resulted in the enactment of the 
Act ' ' to provide a permanent system of highways in that portion 
of the District of Columbia, lying outside of the city, ' ' approved 
March 2, 1893, and subsequent germane legislation. 

On January 14, 1889, Mr. Taulbee introduced in the House 
of Representatives, the following Resolution which was passed 
the same day : 

"Whereas, It is stated in certain newspapers that the 
commissioners of the District of Columbia have in recent 
purchases of real estate within and for the use of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia paid to and through certain agents 
appointed or employed by them prices above that asked or 
received by the vendors or owners of such property, contrary 
to law : Therefore, 

"Resolved, That the Speaker of the House of Represen- 
tatives appoint a special committee of five members to 
investigate the matter of the purchases of real estate by the 
commissioners of the District, and report to the House in 
writing, at any time, by bill or otherwise; and that said 
committee be furnished a stenographer by assignment by 
the Speaker from the roll of stenographers now in the 



History of the City of Washington. 291 

employ of the House, and that they be authorized to employ 
a clerk at a compensation of $6 per day, and that said 
committee be authorized to sit during the sessions of the 
House and authorized to administer oaths and send for 
persons and papers. That the expenses of said investigation 
be paid out of the contingent fund of the House." 
The investigation which was conducted pursuant to this 
resolution resulted in the following legislation in the District of 
Columbia appropriation act approved March 2 of the same year : 
"That hereafter the Commissioners in making purchases 
of sites for schools or other public buildings shall do so 
without the employment of agents or through other persons 
not regular dealers in real estate in the District of Columbia, 
or through such regular dealers who have not had the 
property for sale continuously from the date of the passage 
of this act, and in no case shall commission be paid to more 
than one person or firm greater than the usual commission. ' ' 
October 1, 1890, John W. Ross took office as successor to 
Commissioner Hine. Commissioner Ross was three times re- 
appointed, his term continuing until the date of his death, which 
occurred on July 29, 1902. With him as civil members of 
the Board were associated Myron M. Parker, who served as 
successor to Commissioner Douglass from February 20, 1893, to 
March 9, 1894; George Truesdell, who succeeded Commissioner 
Parker and served from March 10, 1894, to May 7, 1897 ; John 
B. Wight, who succeeded Commissioner Truesdell on May 8,- 
1897, and served until May 8, 1900 ; and Henry B. F. Macfar- 
land, whose first term, as successor to Commissioner Wight, 
began on May 9, 1900. 

Commissioner Ross was born at Lewiston, 111., June 23, 1841. 
He attended Illinois College and was graduated in law from 
Harvard University, being admitted to the Board in 1866. In 
1869 he was elected to the Illinois Legislature for two terms. 
In 1873 he came to Washington where he practised law until 
appointed Postmaster of that city, in which capacity he served 
from February 1, 1888, to October 1, 1890, resigning to accept 
the position of District Commissioner. 

Commissioner Parker was born at Fairfax, Vermont, No- 
vember 7, 1843. He served through the Civil War in the 1st 



292 History of the City of Washington. 

Vermont cavalry. In 1876 he came to Washington and later was 
graduated from the law department of Columbian (now George 
Washington) University. For several years he was assistant 
postmaster of Washington City. He is a prominent mason, and 
has displayed a leading interest in almost every phase of bus- 
iness enterprise and civil progress in the National Capital during 
his residence there. 

Commissioner Truesdell was born in New York City. He 
was educated as a civil engineer at the University of Michigan. 
At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted as private in the 
12th New York Volunteers and was promoted to Lieutenant and 
Captain in 1862, being badly wounded at the battle of Gaines 
Mill and imprisoned in Libbey Prison. When the regiment was 
mustered out in 1863 he was appointed Major and Paymaster in 
the regular army and served as such until 1869. He was 
brevetted Lieutenant Colonel for meritorious services. He 
practised his profession in New Jersey for two years after leaving 
the army and removed to Washington in 1872. In 1888 he 
organized the Eckington and Soldiers Home Railway Company 
whose line was the first street railroad operated by electric power 
in the District, of which he was president for five years. He 
has been prominent in all measures for civic betterment in the 
District for many years, and was especially active and efficient 
in efforts to secure the enactment of the law for the extension of 
the highway system. 

Commissioner Wight was born in Washington City, March 
3, 1853. He entered the employ of Leo C. Campbell, a hardware 
merchant in 1867, resigning after nine years to take charge of 
the business affairs of the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Kendall 
Green which position he held until February, 1890, when he 
resigned and went into the real estate and insurance business. 
From 1893 until appointed Commissioner he held the position 
of Secretary of the Washington Board of Trade. 

During the period covered by the terms of the civil Com- 
missioners who have just been mentioned, the Engineer members 
of the Board were Captain William T. Rossell, who succeeded 
Commissioner Robert on October 15, 1891, and served to May 8, 



History of the City of Washington. 293 

1893; Major Charles F. Powell, who served from May 8, 1893, 
to March 1, 1897 ; Captain William M. Black, who served from 
March 2, 1897, to May 31, 1898 ; Captain Lansing H. Beach, who 
served from June 1, 1898, to October 31, 1901; and Colonel 
John Biddle, who served from November 1, 1901, to May 1, 1907. 

Commissioner Rossell was born in Alabama and was gradu- 
ated from West Point in 1873. He became chief of Engineers. 

Commissioner Powell was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, 
August 13, 1843. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted 
in the 5th Wisconsin Volunteers and served with that regiment 
until September 28, 1863, when he was appointed to the Military 
Academy from South Carolina. 

Commissioner Black was born at Lancaster, Pa., December 
8, 1855. He attended Franklin and Marshall College from 1870 
to 1873 and was graduated from the United States Military 
Academy in 1877. During the Spanish-American War he served 
as Chief of Engineers of the Porto Rican Campaign and later 
as Chief Engineer of the Department of Havana ; and from 1900 
to April, 1901, as Chief Engineer of the Division of Cuba. He 
was connected with the Isthmian Canal Commission from April, 
1903, to July, 1904. 

Commissioner Beach was born in Iowa and was graduated 
from the Military Academy July 1, 1878. 

The period from 1890 to 1900 was characterized by a steady 
development and improvement of the District through the able 
administration of the several Boards of Commissioners who 
served during that period. Commissioner Ross perpetuated his 
memory by his untiring efforts to secure Congressional sanction, 
together with suitable appropriations, for the erection of a 
municipal building. His labors toward this end were recognized 
by the placing of a bronze tablet to his honor in the vestibule 
entrance to the present municipal office structure. 

Of vital consequence to the District during this period was 
the action of Congress on two occasions in disregarding the half- 
and-half principle of the Act of June 11, 1878. 

The first instance was the authorization by act of September 
26, 1890, of the construction and maintenance of a bathing beach 



294 History of the City of Washington. 

on the Tidal Reservoir near the Washington Monument, for 
which the sum of $3,000 was appropriated to be payable entirely 
out of the District revenues. 

This proceeding was of little consequence, however, except 
as a precedent, as compared with the action of Congress taken 
during the years 1894, 1895, 1896 and 1897, in directing the 
repayment to the United States Treasury out of the general 
revenues of the District, of the unpaid balance of the amount 
advanced to pay the District's half of the expense incurred 
under the Act of Congress of July 15, 1882, and other acts for 
the extension of the water supply system of the District, under 
which the Lydecker Tunnel and Howard University reservoir 
had been constructed. This act had made the money so advanced 
repayable in twenty-five annual instalments, entirely out of the 
revenues of the Water Department. In 1894, thirteen instal- 
ments of this loan had been so paid, leaving twelve instalments or 
$735,364.73 unpaid. The entire interest on this debt, amounting 
to $254,135.39 was also paid out of the general revenues of the 
District. Congress by the Acts of August 7, 1894, March 2, 1895, 
June 11, 1896, and March 3, 1897, required the repayment of 
this entire sum in four years instead of in twelve years as had 
been intended when the loan was made, and required it to be 
paid out of the general revenues of the District instead of out 
of the revenues of the Water Department as originally pre- 
scribed. This, in addition to working an extreme immediate 
hardship upon the District, constituted a distinct violation of the 
half and half principle in withdrawing this large amount from 
the general revenues of the District to which as part of the so- 
called "appropriation fund," if it had not been withdrawn, 
Congress under the half and half principle would have been 
required to add an equal sum for defraying the expenses of the 
District. The amount, therefore, of which the financial resources 
of the District for general purposes were thus deprived was 
twice the sum of that principal and interest, or $1,978,980.84. 

Commissioner Macfarland was twice re-appointed, his term 
of service covering the period of practically ten years from May 
9, 1900, to January 24, 1910. On October 16, 1902, Henry L. 



History of the City of Washington. 295 

West took oath as successor to Commissioner Ross. Commis- 
sioner West served two terms, his service terminating with that 
of Commissioner Macfarland on January 24, 1910. 

Commissioner Macfarland was born in Philadelphia, Feb- 
ruary 11, 1861. Coming to Washington shortly after the Civil 
War he was educated in the public schools and in Rittenhouse 
Academy, Washington. Thereafter he read law in the office 
of the Honorable W. B. Webb. In 1879 he entered the Wash- 
ington bureau of the Boston Herald, and engaging otherwise 
as a correspondent and general writer. He was appointed Com- 
missioner of the District by President McKinley. He delivered 
many addresses in the interest of the District, notably the 
Capital Centennial Address at the White House, on December 
12, 1900, the District of Columbia Address at the Pan American 
Exposition September 3, 1901, and an address at the Louisiana 
Purchase Exposition on October 1, 1904. 

Commissioner West was born at Factoryville, Staten Island, 
N. Y., August 20, 1859. Coming to Washington at an early age 
he began working for the Georgetown Courier when thirteen 
years old and later became in turn reporter and managing editor 
on the Washington Post. He was a contributor to several period- 
icals, writing the political articles in the Forum. He was 
honored by election to the Presidency of the Gridiron Club. A 
paragraph which he prepared for the Commissioners' annual 
report for the fiscal year 1908, was the first official recommenda- 
tion of the Commissioners for the establishment of a public 
utilities commission in the District. 

Colonel Biddle was succeeded in office by Major Jay J. 
Morrow, who served from May 2, 1907, to December 21, 1908; 
Major Spencer Cosby, who served from December 21, 1908, to 
March 15, 1909 ; and Major William V. Judson, who served from 
March 15, 1909, to February 28, 1913. 

Commissioner Biddle was born at Detroit February 2, 1859. 
He was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 
1881, and commissioned Captain in 1892. From 1891 to 1898 
he was in charge of the river and harbor work at Nashville, 
Tenn. During the Spanish-American War he served as Lieut. 



296 History of the City of Washington. 

Colonel and Chief Engineer of Volunteers, afterwards serving 
in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands from 1899 to 
1901. 

Commissioner Morrow was born in "West Virginia and 
appointed from Pennsylvania to the Military Academy from 
which he was graduated June 12, 1891. He was commissioned 
Major of U. S. Volunteer Engineers on September 15, 1898, 
receiving an honorable discharge from the Volunteers on Octo- 
ber 6, 1898. 

Commissioner Cosby was born in Maryland October 2, 1867. 
He was graduated at the head of his class from the United 
States Military Academy in 1891. At the outbreak of the Span- 
ish-American War he was appointed Major of Engineers in the 
Volunteer forces. In 1898 he served on the staff of Maj. Gen. 
Brooke during the operations in Porto Rico and on August 13 
was engineer of the column commanded by Gen. Hains to turn 
the entrenched position of the Spanish on the heights north of 
Guayamas. Prom September, 1901, to April, 1903, he was in 
charge of the river and harbor work near Mobile, Ala., then went 
to Manila where he served as Engineer Officer of the Depart- 
ment of Luzon and later in charge of the construction of light 
houses in the Philippine Islands. 

Commissioner Judson was born in Indianapolis on February 
16, 1865. He attended Harvard University two years and then 
entered the Military Academy from which he was graduated in 
1888, later attending the U. S. Engineering school at Willets 
Point, N. Y. He served as Recorder of the Board of Engineers, 
U. S. A., and as member of the U. S. Board of Engineers for 
Rivers and Harbors and as Instructor in the U. S. Engineering 
School. As a Commissioner he was especially active and influ- 
ential in securing the enactment of the provision in the District 
appropriation law approved March 4, 1913, investing the Com- 
missioners with the duties of a public utilities commission. 

Commissioners Macfarland and West were followed by 
Cuno H. Rudolph and John A. Johnston, whose terms extended 
from January 24, 1910, to July 19, 1913. Commissioners Ru- 
dolph and Johnston were followed by Oliver P. Newman and 



History of the City of Washington. 297 

Frederick L. Siddons, whose terms commenced July 19, 1913. 
On February 28, 1913, Colonel Judson was succeeded as Engineer 
Commissioner by Lieutenant Colonel Chester Harding, who on 
that date took the oath of office at Gatun Canal Zone, but did 
not report for duty as Commissioner until March 8, 1913. 

Commissioner Rudolph was born at Baltimore, June 26, 
1860. He came to "Washington about 1891 having purchased an 
interest in the hardware firm of J. H. Chesley and Company, 
and later became President of the Rudolph and West Company. 
He was connected with West Brothers Brick Company and the 
National Metropolitan Bank, and also with the Washington 
Board of Trade and Chamber of Commerce. He has always 
taken a strong interest in civic betterment work and has been 
prominently associated with numerous organizations of that 
nature, notably the Associated Charities and Washington Play 
Grounds Association. He is President of the Washington Board 
of Trade and of the Second National Bank of Washington. 

Commissioner Johnston was born in Allegheny, Pa., Febru- 
ary 22, 1858. He was graduated from the Military Academy 
in 1879 and from the Ft. Leavenworth Infantry and Cavalry 
School in 1883. He attained the rank of Brigadier General in 
1903. He saw several years of frontier service and was for 
some time instructor at Ft. Leavenworth and Jefferson Barracks, 
Mo. He organized the inaugural parades of President Cleve- 
land in 1893 and President McKMey in 1897 and 1901 ; also the 
Grant Memorial parade in 1897, and the military parade at the 
Louisiana Purchase Exposition. During the Spanish-American 
War he was in charge of the mustering in and out of the volun- 
teer forces in the Adjutant General's Office, and was in charge 
of the reorganization of the General recruiting service incident 
to the increase of the Army. 

Engineer Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Chester Hard- 
ing was born in Mississippi December 31. 1866. When five years 
old his family moved to Alabama where he resided until 1885, 
when he was appointed to the United States Military Academy, 
from which he was graduated in 1889. He was engaged in the 
harbor improvement work at Chicago, and St. Louis and in the 



298 History of the City of Washington. 

improvement of the Mississippi River. He afterwards was in- 
structor in civil engineering at the Military Academy. From 
April 16, 1902, until October 1, 1906, he was assistant to the 
Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia, and super- 
intended the construction of the new District Building. He 
afterwards was assigned to duty on the construction of the 
Panama Canal. He was detailed as a Commissioner of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia, while on the latter duty, and took the oath 
of office as such at Gatun, Canal Zone, on February 28, 1913. 
He reported for duty as Commissioner on March 8, 1913. 

Commissioner Newman was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, April 
20, 1877, where he spent his childhood. He is the son of Mr. 
George C. Newman. He removed to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1884 
and attended the public schools and academy there until the 
spring of 1897 when he was appointed a cadet at West Point. 
In the fall of 1898, he began to write magazine articles, and has 
been associated ever since with periodical and journalistic writ- 
ing. He came to Washington in 1901 and has been, until 
appointed Commissioner, connected with the Washington Post, 
Washington Times and other newspaper work. He took the 
oath of office as a Commissioner of the District of Columbia, and 
entered upon duty as such, on July 19, 1913. 

Commissioner Siddons was born in London, England, No- 
vember 21, 1864. He is the son of Joachim Heyward Siddons 
and Mary Agnes Cameron Siddons. His father was an author 
and journalist and was in London at the time of his son's birth, 
although he was a citizen of the United States. He was gradu- 
ated in law from Columbian, now George Washington, University 
in 1887 and was later employed in the Treasury Department. 
He was instructor on Constitutional Law, Evidence, and Bills 
and Notes in the National University Law School. He was also 
one of the Commissioners from the District of Columbia on 
Uniform State Laws. He is a member of the American Bar 
Association and a number of professional and fraternal organi- 
zations. He took the oath of office as a Commissioner of the 
District of Columbia, and entered upon duty as such, on July 
19, 1913. 



History of the City of Washington. 299 

With the incoming of the first decade of the twentieth 
century, during which Commissioner Macfarland was President 
of the Board, came a new impulse to the progress of the city so 
noteworthy in its results that the succeeding period may well 
be regarded as constituting a distinct era in the history of the 
District of Columbia. At the beginning of this period the 
National Capital had no nitration plant; no adequate sewer 
system ; no proper sewage disposal arrangements, all the sewage 
emptying into the water front of the city; and no District gov- 
ernment building. Across the Potomac River, the old Long 
Bridge over which the troops had marched in the Civil War, 
caused the lower portion of the city including part of Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue, to be flooded at every large freshet. Railway 
crossings at grade were the cause of many serious accidents and 
two separate, inadequate and inartistic railroad stations, one of 
them occupying a central position across the principal park 
within the old city limits, gave rise to unending complaint. 

Rock Creek Park and Potomac Park were just beginning to 
be developed; the Connecticut Avenue Bridge which now spans 
Rock Creek Park valley had not been planned, and other smaller 
bridges, for example, that over the Anaeostia River, were, like 
those now spanning the Potomac in place of the removed Long 
Bridge, yet to be projected. 

No provision had been made for a municipal hospital and 
a home for the aged poor or a reformatory for the minor offend- 
ers. There was no District of Columbia public library building 
in 1900; no publicly owned manual training or business high 
school buildings, and no plan for other high school or normal 
school buildings. 

All of these physical needs of the District were supplied 
during the first decade of the century. 

Besides expenditure by the United States and the District 
of Columbia of over five millions of dollars in connection with 
the abolition of railway grade crossings and the alteration of 
streets and the preparation of the plaza, the railroads expended 
over twenty-two millions of dollars, abolishing absolutely all 
grade crossings within the City of Washington and beginning 



300 History of the City of Washington. 

the gradual abolition of those outside of the city and within the 
District; freeing the Mall from the servitude of the railway 
station and tracks and restoring it to the public park system, 
and building what was in 1908 the most beautiful railway station 
in the world, a noble gateway for the National Capital, since 
surpassed in size but not in beauty by the two new stations in 
New York City. All this work was done under the direction of 
the District Commissioners who by law were required to pass 
upon the plans and to certify to the proper execution of them, 
before the contribution of the United States and the District of 
Columbia could be paid over to the railroads. 

Some of the largest items of expenditure for these improve- 
ments in that decade were new city and suburban sewer system 
and sewage disposal system, $5,136,373 ; filtration plant, $3,427,- 
306 ; extension of high service water system, $2,674,552 ; District 
government building, $2,500,000; Highway Bridge across the 
Potomac River, $1,191,468; extension of 16th Street, $1,000,000; 
extension of Massachusetts Avenue, $500,000; Massachusetts 
Avenue Bridge across Rock Creek, $236,847; Connecticut 
Avenue Bridge and approaches across Rock Creek, $864,499 ; 
Anacostia Bridge and approaches, $453,730; Piney Branch 
Bridge, $125,766 ; District hospital site and tuberculosis hospital 
building, $203,259 ; improving Rock Creek, $100,000 ; a site and 
buildings for home for the aged and for a municipal colored 
industrial school (the first in the country), $265,000. 

No account is taken in these figures of the ordinary exten- 
sion and improvement of avenues and streets nor of the 
construction of new school buildings large and small, nor of 
new buildings for the fire and police departments which were all 
counted in the estimates and appropriations as part of the 
regular expenses of maintenance, although the cost of these 
improvements amounted in the aggregate to millions of dollars. 

During the decade from 1900 to 1910, the annual appropri- 
ations increased from $8,725,946.18 for the fiscal year ending 
June 30, 1901, to $11,405,698.05 for the fiscal year ending June 
30, 1911. These figures illustrate the material progress of the 
District of Columbia in that decade. There were years during 



History of the City of Washington. 301 

the decade, however, in which larger appropriations were made 
including those for extraordinary municipal improvements, as 
for example in the years 1905, $12,374,080.10; 1908, $11,444,- 
442.89 ; 1909, $12,154,977.04. 

The assessed value of real property increased from $176,- 
567,549 in 1900 to $285,153,771 in 1910. 

During that period approximately twenty-three millions 
was expended upon extraordinary municipal improvements. 

All these expenditures the taxpayers of the District of 
Columbia a total population of 278,718 in 1900 and 331,069 in 
1910, shared equally with the rest of the population of the United 
States under the half and half plan of appropriations provided 
for in the act of June 11, 1878, creating the present form of 
government of the District of Columbia, just as they shared 
equally in the annual appropriations for the maintenance of the 
National Capital. Obviously the local revenues were insufficient 
to provide currently for such extraordinary expenditures on 
account of municipal improvements in Washington, or any other 
city, without unduly curtailing the expenditures necessary for 
the maintenance of all the ordinary municipal service and insti- 
tutions. It was necessary, if these extensive municipal 
improvements were to be executed promptly, that the District 
of Columbia must borrow money in order to meet its half of the 
expenditures on that account for the particular year. Congress 
was, therefore, asked to loan the money from the United States 
Treasury at two per cent, which was done. 

The Commissioners also asked Congress to authorize a grad- 
ual repayment of the money borrowed by the District of Columbia 
from the United States Treasury for the extraordinary improve- 
ments over such a period of years and at such a rate as would 
not necessitate the cutting of the appropriations for maintenance 
and development of the different municipal departments. They 
pointed out that the revenues of the District of Columbia were 
steadily increasing; that with the power of appropriation in its 
hands Congress could control the whole matter; and that by 
adopting the plan of gradual payments the United States Treas- 
ury would get back its money without any embarrassment to 



302 History of the City of Washington. 

the orderly development of the municipal departments. They 
advocated a separate statement in the estimates of items for 
extraordinary municipal improvements and separate statements 
of the appropriations for that purpose ; and a separate Capital 
account kept on the books of the Treasury where the accounts of 
the District appropriations were kept. 

Congress, however, did not adopt this latter recommenda- 
tion but made numerous advances aggregating about $10,000,- 
000, at two per cent interest, making it repayable out of the 
District revenues at a rate so rapid that the entire amount was 
repaid by 1913. 

Meanwhile Congress kept down the expenditures for the 
municipal services and after 1910 making no large appropria- 
tions for extraordinary improvements. If the Commissioners' 
plan had been followed, the improvements would have continued 
regularly, year after year, and with the increasing revenues of 
the District the amounts advanced by the United States Treasury 
would have been gradually repaid. 

On the non-physical side, the District of Columbia advanced 
quite as remarkably as on the physical side. Its public school 
system was re-organized. Important improvements were made 
in the school laws, in the salaries of teachers, in the extension of 
manual training throughout the schools, as well as in the steady 
increase in school facilities. 

In 1900 also began the re-organization of the public charities 
system, both with respect to governmental institutions and pri- 
vate institutions, utilized by the District government. The 
Board of Charities appointed in 1900 upon the recommendation 
of the Commissioners, took the most modern and enlightened 
view of public charity work and, supported by the Commission- 
ers, presented recommendations to Congress, which at first, 
bitterly opposed by private interests and not well received by 
the Committees, finally prevailed in large measure. The Board 
of Children's Guardians, founded in 1885, was the only modern 
institution in the District charities system and while its work 
was known throughout the country and its example followed 
in many jurisdictions. 



History of the City of Washington. 303 

There were no municipal playgrounds in the District of 
Columbia in 1900. But they were soon recommended to Con- 
gress by the Commissioners after their usefulness had been shown 
by experience by philanthropic citizens in private associations. 
By the close of the decade the District was well equipped with 
such playgrounds. The National Playground Association was 
organized in "Washington through the encouragement of Com- 
missioner Macfarland, who especially advocated this form of 
public education. 

The only municipal hospital, the so-called Alms House, was 
in 1900 between the District work house and the District jail 
on a tract of ground on the Anacostia at the eastern end of the 
city. The honest aged, and sick poor were associated with 
criminals and misdemeanants and inadequate provision was 
made at best in makeshift structures for the sick poor. The 
Commissioners obtained from Congress authority and money to 
buy a municipal hospital site and in 1901 bought for $73,639.40 
a thirty-three acre tract on what is now Georgia Avenue, on 
high ground north of the city, upon which the beginnings of the 
municipal hospital in the shape of a tuberculosis hospital build- 
ing, stands. They also obtained the authority and appropriation 
of Congress to have plans prepared for a general municipal 
hospital. The Commissioners also obtained from Congress au- 
thority and appropriation to purchase a large tract of land at 
the southeast corner of the District opposite Alexandria on the 
Potomac River. 

Subsequently, Congress acting upon the report of a special 
penal commission approved by the Commissioners, authorized the 
Commissioners to provide for a work house and reformatory 
project on a farm purchased by the Commissioners near 
Occoquan in Virginia, at which the work of the former work 
house is carried on according to modern ideas. 

All the other public charitable institutions were reorganized 
and improved, the work of the Board of Children's Guardians 
was supported and strengthened, and the auxiliary service fur- 
nished by private charitable institutions was put on a modern 
business basis under the supervision of the Board of Charities. 



304 History of the City of Washington. 

In 1900 there was in the District of Columbia no compulsory 
education law, no child labor law, no Juvenile Court and pro- 
bation law, no law for the condemnation of insanitary buildings 
or widening of alleys into minor streets, no law for the regula- 
tion of employment agencies, no effective law for the regulation 
of the sale of poisons and the pharmacy business, no law for the 
examination and registration of nurses, no law for the examina- 
tion of veterinary surgeons, no law for the regulation of savings 
banks or building associations, no law for the removal of nui- 
sances from the property of non-resident owners, no law for the 
registration of tuberculosis cases or the free examination of 
sputum, no effective law against racetrack gambling. In 1910 
laws covering all these subjects recommended by the Commis- 
sioners had been enacted and are being effectively enforced. 
There was no provision for the supervision of insurance com- 
panies in the District of Columbia in 1900 and the insurance 
business, without regulation, furnished opportunity to wildcat 
concerns which damaged the business of reputable companies 
while imperilling the interests of the insured. In 1902 a Depart- 
ment of Insurance was established which has improved the 
conditions of the insurance business in the District of Columbia. 

Most of the departments of the District government, not 
already mentioned, were re-organized and put on a modern basis. 
Special action of Congress was obtained for the re-organization 
of the police, fire, and electrical departments, with better salaries 
and better facilities for the men. In 1900 there was no fire 
prevention inspection and no inspection of electrical installation 
both of which have been secured, resulting in a great reduction 
of fire loss. 

Especial efforts were made to improve the Health Depart- 
ment with particular emphasis upon the protection of the milk 
supply and all that the Commissioners could do by calling a 
"milk conference" of experts in 1905 and using their executive 
power to carry out its recommendations, was done. 

In all these matters the Commissioners advocated model 
laws for the District of Columbia, not only in its interest but for 
the sake of the rest of the country. Among their recommenda- 



History of the City of Washington. 305 

tions of that period were two, namely, for the creation of a 
Public Utilities Commission for the regulation of public utility 
corporations, and that for the reformation of the excise law and 
reduction of the number of saloons, which were approved by 
Congress in legislation in 1913. Other recommendations made 
then which Congress has not yet approved were for a civil ser- 
vice law to govern the District of Columbia offices; (meantime 
kept on a merit system by Commissioners' action) ; for the 
further improvement of sanitary conditions through the health 
department and otherwise ; and the elimination of alley slums ; 
for the further improvement of the charity system; for the 
regulation of assessment life insurance and the enactment of a 
model insurance law, and for the regulation of loan concerns 
in similar fashion to the regulation of savings banks and build- 
ing associations. 

During the decade from 1900 to 1910, in addition to what 
was repaid the United States Treasury on advances, ten million 
dollars was added to the sinking fund for the payment of the 
old bonded debt of the period preceding 1878. 

The taxation of real estate, personal property, corporation 
franchises and licenses and other minor sources of revenue 
yielded about six million dollars a year. It meant that the 
inhabitants paid in round numbers sixteen dollars per capita 
per annum while all the rest of the United States pay in round 
numbers six cents per capita per annum for the maintenance and 
development of the common National Capital. 

The Commissioners have for many years advocated a civil 
service law for the offices of the District government; thus far 
in vain. However, the Commissioners without express authority 
of law have maintained a civil service system on the principles 
of the United States law insofar as this has been possible. By 
arrangement with the civil service commission, affirmed by the 
court when it was attacked, examinations have been conducted 
by that Commission for all applicants for the fire and police 
departments and for all medical and auditing places under the 
District government. This has been all that could be done with- 
out securing special authority and appropriations from Congress. 



306 History of the City of Washington. 

This review of the recent advancement in the affairs of the 
District would be incomplete without some recognition of the 
interest shown by Congress and an acknowledgment of the ser- 
vices rendered by the members of the committees on the District 
of Columbia and of the sub-committees on appropriations. The 
committees an Public Buildings and Grounds, at the urgent 
request of the District Commissioners, provided the legislative 
authority for the erection of the District of Columbia govern- 
ment building, including the purchase of the site, costing in all 
nearly two and a half million dollars. The building was con- 
structed under a commission composed of the District 
Commissioners and the Secretary of the Treasury, with Captain 
Chester Harding, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, afterwards 
Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia, as the 
executive and supervising engineer. This building was formally 
opened on the Fourth of July, 1908, by appropriate exercises 
celebrating Independence Day, as well as the consummation of 
the hopes and efforts of years, and the beginnings of the "safe 
and sane" celebration of the Fourth of July. 

The officers detailed from the Engineer Corps to assist the 
Engineer Commissioner are required by the Act of Congress of 
December 24, 1890 (26 Stat. 1113) to perform the duties of the 
Engineer Commissioner in the event of his absence from the 
District, or his disability, and many of them have so acted. 

The officers who have been so detailed are Capt. Richard L. 
Hoxie, July 21, 1878 to August 1, 1884 ; Capt. Francis V. Greene, 
May 2, 1879 to March 3, 1885; Lieut. C. McD. Townsend, August 
1, 1884 to March 6, 1886 ; Capt. F. A. Mahan, March 25, 1885 
to May 27, 1886; Capt. Eugene Griffin, May 27, 1886 to March 
6, 1888; Capt. Thos. W. Symons, June 5, 1886 to November 1, 
1889 ; Capt, S. S. Leach, March 6, 1888 to June 2, 1888 ; Capt. 
James L. Lusk, June 2, 1888 to March 1, 1893; Capt. Wm. T. 
Rossell, November 1, 1889 until detailed as a Commissioner, 
District of Columbia, October 15, 1891 ; Capt. Gustav J. Fiebeger, 
October 31, 1891 to May 27, 1896; Capt, George McC. Derby, 
March 1, 1893 to October 8, 1894; Capt. Edward Burr, October 
9, 1894 to April 28, 1898 ; Capt. Lansing H. Beach, October 30, 



History of the City of Washington. 307 

1894 until detailed as a Commissioner, District of Columbia, 
June 1, 1898; Capt. William E. Craighill, February 28, 1899 
to September 15, 1899; Capt. David Du B. Gaillard, July 21, 
1899 to March 6, 1901; Capt. H. C. Newcomer, December 27, 
1899 to December 23, 1903; Capt. Chester Harding, April 16, 
1901 to October 1, 1906 ; Capt. Jay J. Morrow, January 4, 1904, 
until sworn as a Commissioner, District of Columbia, May 2, 
1907; Capt. William Kelly, September 29, 1906 to July 2, 1910; 
Capt. Edward M. Markham, August 14, 1907 to August 28, 

1912; Capt. Mark Brooke, June 15, 1910, to ; 

Capt. Julian L. Schley, October 8, 1912, to ; 

Capt. Roger G. Powell, October 15, 1913, to 

It is a peculiarity of that law that it only vests the senior 
and junior officers so detailed with the duty to act as an alter- 
nate Commissioner; so that when three assistants are detailed 
for that duty the one of intermediate rank does not become an 
acting Commissioner in such event but may be subordinate to 
his junior in rank. The concurrent detail of three assistants 
has only occurred twice ; the first time from 1894 to 1896, when 
Captains Fieberger, Burr and Beach were in that position, and 
the second time in 1913 when Captains Brooke, Schley and 
Powell were on that detail. 

Five of the persons who have been nominated by the Pres- 
ident of the United States for the office of Commissioner of the 
District of Columbia were not confirmed by the Senate. These 
nominees were John F. Olmstead, who was nominated by Pres- 
ident Arthur on the 18th of December, 1882, and his name 
withdrawn January 13, 1883; William B. Webb who had been 
Commissioner for one term, was nominated for re-appointment 
by President Cleveland on January 14, 1889, but he was contin- 
ued in office until May 21, 1889, when President Harrison issued 
a recess commission to John W. Douglass as Mr. Webb's success- 
or, and on December 4, 1889, sent Mr. Douglass' nomination to 
the Senate; Francis P. B. Sands, was nominated by President 
Cleveland on February 16, 1897, in place of John W. Ross 
whose term had then expired. Mr. Sands was not confirmed 
and Mr. Ross was re-appointed by President McKinley. Cuno 



308 History of the City of Washington. 

H. Rudolph and James F. Oyster, who were nominated by 
President Taft on January 21, 1913. 

The omission to confirm the latter two was not based on 
any personal objections but was due to the sentiment that the 
incoming President Woodrow Wilson was entitled to the oppor- 
tunity to select the principal authorities to administer the 
municipal affairs of the National Capital during his term of 
office. 



CHAPTER X. 



Municipal Suffrage 

The right to vote in the District of Columbia for President 
of the United States and other national offices existed at the time 
the territory embraced in the District was ceded to Congress, and 
was exercised by the qualified voters in the District in the Presi- 
dential election of November, 1800, and remained in force until 
the first Monday in December, 1800, when the exclusive jurisdic- 
tion of Congress over the District took effect. 

The qualified voters in the portion derived from Maryland 
were at that time, 

' ' All free men above 21 years of age having a freehold of 50 
acres of land in the county in which they offer to vote, and 
residing therein, and all free men having property in this State 
above the value of £30 current money, and having resided in the 
county in which they offer to vote one whole year next preceding 
the election, shall have a right of suffrage, etc." (Constitution of 
Maryland). 

When the District ceased to be a part of Maryland, its 
residents, no longer being residents of any county of Maryland, 
consequently lost the right to vote in the elections of that State. 

The qualification of voters in the portion of the District 
derived from Virginia at the time of the cession was the 
possession of a certain amount of real property in the county in 
which the vote was cast. (Vol. 8, p. 306, Hening's Statutes at 
Large of Virginia). When that part of the District ceased to 
be under the jurisdiction of any county of Virginia, that right 
of suffrage in the District accordingly expired. 

The citizens of the District of Columbia were subsequently 
vested with the right of suffrage in municipal matters, as herein- 
after shown : but the residents of the portion of the District of 



310 History of the City of Washington. 

Columbia, outside of the city of Washington and of Georgetown, 
had no right of suffrage, except at the special election to adopt a 
code of laws in 1858, from the first Monday of December, 1800, 
when the Jurisdiction of the United States over the District 
took effect, until the 20th of April, 1871, when they were vested 
with that function under the territorial Act of February 21, 
1871, and possessed it until June 20, 1874, when the territorial 
form of government for the District was abolished. 

With respect to the purpose of the Constitution in regard to 
local suffrage at the Seat of Government, the following opinions 
are of interest. 

On a motion in the House of Representatives on December 
31, 1800, to recommit a bill concerning the District of Columbia, 
Mr. Harper, in reply to an observation that the people of the 
District had continued for one hundred years to live happily 
under their respective State governments, and therefore it was 
not necessary for Congress to legislate at all on the subject, said : 
"But the provision of the Constitution on this subject had 
not been made with this view. It was made to bestow dignity 
and independence on the Government of the Union. It was 
to protect it from such outrages as had occurred when it 
was differently situated, when it was without competent 
legislative, executive, and judicial power to insure to itself 
respect. While the government was under the guardianship 
of State laws, those laws might be inadequate to its protec- 
tion, or there might exist a spirit hostile to the General 
Government, or, at any rate, indisposed to give it proper 
protection. This was one reason, among others, for the pro- 
visions of the Constitution confirmed and carried into effect 
by the acts of Maryland and Virginia, and by the act of 
Congress. ' ' 
Mr. Madison stated in the Federalist that : 

"The indispensable necessity of complete authority at the 
seat of government carries its own evidence with it. It is a 
power exercised by every legislature of the Union, I might 
say of the world, by virtue of its general supremacy. With- 
out it, not only the public authority might be insulted and its 
proceedings be interrupted with impunity, but a dependence 
of the members of the General Government on the State 
comprehending the seat of the government for protection in 
the exercise of their duty might bring on the national 



History of the City of Washington. 311 

councils an imputation of awe or influence equally dishonor- 
able to the Government and dissatisfactory to the other 
members of the confederacy. This consideration has the 
more weight as the gradual accumulation of public improve- 
ments at the stationary residence of the government would 
be both too great a public pledge to be left in the hands of 
a single State and would create so many obstacles to a 
removal of the Government as still further to abridge its 
necessary independence. The extent of this Federal district 
is sufficiently circumscribed to satisfy every jealousy of an 
opposite nature. And as it is to be appropriated to this use 
with the consent of the State ceding it ; as the State will no 
doubt provide in the compact for the rights and the consent 
of the citizens inhabiting it ; as the inhabitants will find 
sufficient inducements of interest to become willing parties 
to the cession ; as they will have had their voice in the 
election of the government which is to exercise authority 
over them ; as a municipal legislature for local purposes 
derived from their own suffrages will of course be allowed 
them; and as the authority of the legislature of the State, 
and of the inhabitants of the ceded part of it, to concur in 
the cession will be derived from the whole people of the 
State in their adoption of the Constitution, every imaginable 
objection seems to be obviated." 

The first grant of municipal suffrage in the City of Wash- 
ington was conferred by the Act of Congress approved May 3, 
1802, which provided for "The city council to be elected annually, 
by ballot, in a general ticket, by the free white male inhabitants 
of full age, who have resided twelve months in the city, and paid 
taxes therein the year preceding the election being held." 
(2 Stat. 196.) The Mayor was appointable by the President of 
the United States. 

An Act of Congress, approved May 4, 1812, qualified the 
suffrage by conferring it on "every free white male citizen of 
lawful age, who shall have resided in the city of Washington 
for the space of one year next preceding the day of election, and 
shall be a resident of the ward in which he shall offer to vote, 
and who shall have been assessed on the books of the corporation 
not less than two months prior to the day of election." These 
suffragists were entitled to vote for a board of aldermen of eight 
members, and a. board of common council 12 members, who 



312 History of the City of Washington. 

elected the Mayor by joint ballot, on the 2nd Monday of June, 
(ib. 723). 

The election of the Mayor by the qualified voters, instead 
of by the Councils, was next brought within the right of suffrage, 
and the right restricted to citizens of the United States, and to 
those assessed "for the year ending on the 31st day of December 
next preceding the election," and who "shall have paid all 
taxes legally assessed and due on personal property." Act 
approved May 15, 1820. 

A property qualification was a prerequisite to the right to 
vote until the election held on the first Monday in June, 1848, 
under the Act of Congress approved May 17, 1848. Section 5 
of that act modified the right of suffrage, by defining the age 
of the voter as 21 years, who should be subject to and have paid 
a school tax, and not be a person non compos mentis, a vagrant, 
a pauper, or have been convicted of any infamous crime. 

At the special election in the adoption of a Code of Laws 
for the District, "Every free white male citizen of the United 
States, above the age of twenty-one years, who shall have resided 
in the District of Columbia for one year next preceding the 
said fifteenth day of February, 1858," was allowed to vote, pur- 
suant to a proclamation of the President of the United States, 
dated December 24, 1857. 

An Act of May 16, 1856, provides that "Whereas native- 
born citizens, resident of the city of Washington, who arrive at 
the age of twenty-one years between the thirtieth day of Decem- 
ber next preceding the election and the day of election are not 
allowed to vote at such election. That no person, being natur- 
alized between said day of December and the day of the 
succeeding election shall be entitled to vote at such preceding 
election." (11 Stat. 15). 

All voters in Washington and Georgetown were required by 
the Act approved May 20, 1862, to take and subscribe an oath 
or affirmation of allegiance to the Constitution and Government 
of the United States. 

An Act of Congress, approved June 1, 1864, seems to be the 
first statute mentioning the registration of voters; but that was 



History of the City of Washington. 313 

a registration simultaneous with the offer to vote, where the 
person offering to vote had not been registered; and prescribes 
an oath as to residence. Publicity of lists of voters by posting 
and newspaper publication prior to elections was first required 
by an Act of Congress of February 5, 1867. 

On November 6, 1865, the feeling against the proposition to 
grant municipal suffrage to negroes in the District of Columbia, 
found expression in the Board of Common Council of the City 
of "Washington, by the introduction of a resolution which passed 
that body on the 13th of that month and the Board of Aldermen 
on the 20th of the same month and became a law as follows: 

CHAP. 203. 
"Joint Resolution providing for a special elec- 
tion to ascertain the sentiments of the people of Wash- 
ington on the question of negro suffrage. 

"Resolved by the Board of Aldermen and Board of 
Common Council of the City of Washington, That in the 
event that any bill be introduced in Congress for the ad- 
mission of the colored man by this city to the right of 
suffrage, that the Mayor be, and he is hereby, authorized 
and directed to call the Councils together within two days' 
notice, for the purpose of taking into consideration meas- 
ures for holding a special election to ascertain the sentiments 
of the people on the subject. 

"Approved November 23, 1865." 
On December 11 the Mayor, in consonance with the spirit 
of that resolution, reported to the Common Council that a bill 
had been introduced in both houses of Congress to extend to 
colored persons the right of suffrage in the District. This report 
was referred to a special committee of the Common Council 
which on the 14th of that month reported a joint resolution 
which resulted in the passage of the following ordinance in 
which the Board of Aldermen concurred on the same-date: 

CHAP. 218. 
"An Act authorizing a Special Election to ascertain the 
opinion of the people of Washington on the question of 
Negro Suffrage. 

"Whereas, Several bills have been introduced in Congress 
having in view the extension of the elective franchise, in 
this city, so as to confer its privileges upon the negro popu- 



314 History of the City of Washington. 

lation; and, whereas, the members of the National 

Legislature, to whom is committed the protection of the 

interests of the people of the National Metropolis, should 

be correctly informed of the sentiments of this community 

on a question so materially affecting their present and 

future interests, as well as the interests of the country 

generally : Therefore, 

"Be it enacted by the Board of Aldermen and Board of 

Common Council of the City of Washington, That the 

Mayor be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to 

cause a special election to be held on Thursday, the 21st day 

of December, 1865, and cause polls to be opened on that 

day, and to be kept open from eight o'clock in the morning 

till six o'clock in the evening, to enable the legal voters of 

the City of Washington to give expression, in a formal 

manner, to their opinions on the propriety of extending 

the elective franchise to the negro population, now residents, 

or hereafter to become residents, within the limits of this 

Corporation. 
********* 

"Sec. 3. The Mayor shall transmit a copy of the returns 
to the presiding officer of each House of Congress to be laid 
before those bodies, and cause the same to be published in 
the newspapers of this city.* * * 
"Approved December 16, 1865." 
In pursuance of this ordinance a special election was held 
on the 21st day of December, 1865, the result of which is set 
forth in the following letter from the Mayor to the President 
of the Senate of the United States : 

"Washington City, Mayor's Office, 

January 6, 1866. 
Hon. L. F. S. Foster, 

President of the Senate of the United States. 
Sir: 

' ' I have the honor in compliance with an act of the Coun- 
cils of this city, approved December 16, 1865, to transmit 
through you to the Senate of the United States the result 
of an election held on Thursday, 21st of December, to 
ascertain the opinion of the people of Washington on the 
question of negro suffrage, at which the vote was 6,626, 
segregated as follows : 

Against negro suffrage 6,591 

For negro suffrage - 35 

Majority against negro suffrage 6,556 



History of the City of Washington. 315 

"This vote, the largest, with but two exceptions, ever 
polled in this city, conclusively shows the unanimity of 
sentiment of the people of Washington in opposition to the 
extension of the right of suffrage to that class, and that its 
integrity may be properly appreciated by the Senate, I give 
the aggregate of the vote cast at the five elections immedi- 
ately preceding, for Mayor. 

"Approved December 22, 1865. 

"1856, 5,840; 1858, 6,813; 1860, 6,975; 1862, 4,816; 
1864, 5,720. 

"No others, in addition to this minority of thirty-five, are 
to be found in this community who favor the existence of 
the right of suffrage to the class, and in the manner pro- 
posed, excepting those who have already memorialized the 
Senate in its favor, and who, with but little association, less 
sympathy, and no community of interest or affinity with 
the citizens of Washington, receive here from the general 
government temporary employment, and having, at the 
National Capital, a residence, limited only to the duration 
of a presidential term, claim, and invariably exercise the 
elective franchise elsewhere. 

"The people of this city, claiming an independence of 
thought, and the right to express it, have thus given a 
grave and deliberate utterance, in an unexaggerated way, 
to their opinion and feeling on this subject. 

"This unparalleled unanimity of sentiment which per- 
vades all classes of this community in opposition to the 
extension of the right of suffrage to that class engenders an 
earnest hope that Congress, in according to this expression 
of their wishes, the respect and consideration they would, as 
individual members, yield to those whom they immediately 
represent, would abstain from the exercise of its absolute 
power, and so avert an impending future, apparently so 
objectionable to those over whom, by the fundamental law 

of the land, they have ' exclusive jurisdiction. ' 

With much respect, I am, sir, 

Your own and the Senate's 

Obedient servant, 

Richard Wallace, Mayor." 
A similar election was held in Georgetown on the 28th day 
of December, 1865, in pursuance of the following resolution : 
A resolution in regard to Negro Suffrage. 

"Whereas it is proposed in the Congress of the United 
States so to amend the charter of Georgetown as to extend 



316 History of the City of Washington. 

the elective franchise to persons of color in said town; and 
whereas such legislation, in the opinion of this Corporation, 
is wholly uncalled for, and would be an act of grievous 
oppression, against which a helpless community have no 
defence, except by an appeal to the sense of justice of 
Congress; and whereas it may tend to avert this evil to 
have an expression of opinion from the voters of the town : 
Therefore, 

' ' Resolved, That the polls be opened on the twenty-eighth 
day of December inst., and be kept open on said day between 
the hours of 9 o'clock a. m. and 6 p. m., at the several pre- 
cincts of the town, under the direction of the Commissioners 
of Election, for a special balloting by the qualified voters 
of the town upon the question whether they are in favor of 
the extension of the right of suffrage by law to the colored 
inhabitants of said town or not — those in favor of said 
extension to vote 'Yes,' and those opposed thereto to 
vote 'No.' " 
The result of that election was 712 against negro suffrage 
and one vote in favor of it. 

An Act of Congress, adopted January 8, 1867, which was 
passed over the veto of President Andrew Johnson, abolished 
all racial distinctions respecting suffrage in the District, and 
provided for registration of voters prior to election, and limited 
the right of voting to those whose names were on the list of 
registered voters. This law is the first enactment which omits 
the word "white" as a voter's qualification. But all "distinc- 
tion of race color or previous condition of servitude" as a 
qualification of suffrage in the District of Columbia was 
abolished in terms, by an Act of May 31, 1870. (16 Stat. 14). 

The latest right of suffrage in the District of Columbia was 
granted by an Act of Congress of February 21, 1871, (16 Stat. 
421), as follows: 

"Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That all male citi- 
zens of the United States, above the age of twenty-one years, 
who shall have been actual residents of said District for 
three months prior to the passage of this act, except such 
as are non-compos mentis and persons convicted of infamous 
crimes, shall be entitled to vote at said election, in the 
election district or precinct in which he shall then reside, 
and shall have so resided for thirty days immediately pre- 
ceding said election and shall be eligible to any office within 



History of the City of Washington. 317 

the said District, and for all subsequent elections twelve 

months' prior residence shall be required to constitute a 

voter; but the legislative assembly shall have no right to 

abridge or limit the right of suffrage." (18 Stat. 116). 

The Registration Officers and Superintendents of Elections, 
the time, place, and manner of conducting the first election under 
that law, were designated in an undated proclamation by the 
Governor and Judges of the Supreme Court of the District of 
Columbia, as directed by section 5 of that law. The first election 
under that law was held on Tuesday, April 20, 1871, from 8 a. m. 
until 7 p. m. But the like duty as to subsequent elections was 
vested in and exercised by the Legislative Assembly and 
Governor. 

The Act of the General Assembly of Maryland, passed 
December 25, 1789, incorporating Georgetown prescribed respect- 
ing municipal suffrage in that town, "that all free men above 
twenty-one years of age, and having visible property within the 
state above the value of thirty pounds current money, and 
having resided in said town one whole year next before the first 
day of January next, shall have the right to assemble at such 
place in said town as the said mayor, recorder, and aldermen, 
or any three or more of them shall appoint, and * 
proceed to elect viva voce," etc. 

A property qualification in Georgetown continued until 
August 11, 1856, when an Act of Congress of that date granted 
the suffrage to every free white male citizen of the United States 
who had attained the age of twenty-one years, and had resided 
in Georgetown one year immediately preceding the election, and 
been subject to and paid a school tax for the year. 

By the Act of February 21, 1871, above cited, Georgetown 
became amenable to the same laws respecting suffrage, as the 
rest of the District. 

When the Government created by the Act of February 21, 
1871, was abolished on June 20, 1874, all right of municipal 
suffrage anywhere in the District of Columbia was extinguished, 
and has not been restored. 

Although Congress may confer the privilege of self govern- 
ment upon the people of the District of Columbia, as an admin- 



318 History of the City of Washington, 

istrative expedient, as it has done, to save it from the toil and 
care which exclusive legislation required by the constitution 
would involve, or from considerations of policy or sentiment, 
just as it has since vested the Commissioners with power to make 
police and other regulations in the nature of the ordinances of 
other municipalities, it is obvious that local suffrage cannot be 
granted to the people of the District as a right, without an 
amendment to the constitution to that effect. In short, Congress 
has no power to divest itself of complete responsibility for the 
government of the National Capital. 



CHAPTER XI 



General History. 

At the time of the removal of the Government to Washing- 
ton in 1800 the population of the city consisted of 2,464 white 
persons, 623 slaves, and 123 free colored persons; 3,210 persons 
in all. The population of Georgetown was 2,993. At this time 
the public buildings consisted of the original north wing of the 
Capitol — the portion now occupied by the Supreme Court; the 
President's house; the Treasury building, a plain, two-story 
brick structure containing" thirty rooms, which occupied the 
site of the south front of the present edifice; and a similar 
building at the southwest corner of the grounds of the Presi- 
dent's house, known at first as the War Office and later as the 
Navy Department building. 

During the first decade of the city's existence the popula- 
tion nearly trebled, the census of 1810 showing it in that year 
to be 8,208, of whom about 6,000 were whites, about 1,300 
slaves, and about 900 free colored persons. The population of 
Georgetown was in that year 4,948. This decade, which cov- 
ered the mayoralty of Mr. Brent, witnessed a considerable devel- 
opment in the condition of the city. In 1803 Congress spent 
$13,466 in the improvement of Pennsylvania Avenue, which at 
the time of the removal of the Government was almost impass- 
able. This appropriation was largely due to the interest of 
President Jefferson, who was also responsible for the planting 
of the double row of poplars which adorned Pennsylvania 
Avenue from the foot of the Capitol grounds to Fifteenth 
Street. 

The amended charter of 1804 provided "for the establish- 
ment and superintendence of schools," and an act of the City 



320 History of the City of Washington. 

Councils of December 5 of that year provided ' ' that the super- 
intendence of public schools within the City of Washington 
shall be placed under the direction of a board of thirteen trus- 
tees, whereof seven shall be annually chosen, by the joint 
ballots of the Council, from among the residents of the city, 
and six be annually chosen by individuals contributing to the 
promotion of schools, as hereinafter provided." 

The Board was given power to receive donations for the 
schools. A small charge was made for pupils whose parents 
or guardians were able to pay for them, but for those who could 
not afford tuition fee the board made provision, keeping the 
knowledge of such free pupils to themselves, that the children 
should not be mortified by the fact. 

It was further provided that so much of the net proceeds 
of taxes laid or to be laid on slaves, dogs, licenses for carriages 
and hacks, for ordinaries and taverns, for retailing wines and 
spirituous liquors, for billiard tables, for theatrical and other 
amusements, and for hawkers and peddlers up to fifteen hun- 
dred dollars should be appropriated as the trustees might decide 
to be necessary for the education of the poor of the city. 

All contributors to the amount of ten dollars, and over, 
were entitled to meet and elect six trustees for the schools, to 
remain in office one year. At this election each voter had as 
many votes as the sums of ten dollars he had contributed. In 
addition to these six trustees, the City Councils at another 
meeting, elected seven other trustees, to hold office for one 
year. President Jefferson was made one of the first trustees and 
president of the board, and accepted the duty in a courteous 
letter to Mayor Brent, dated August 14, 1805. 

The first committee appointed to solicit contributions suc- 
ceeded in getting $3,782 from 191 persons. President Jefferson 
contributed $200 of this amount. 

The board made a distinction between "poor children" and 
pay pupils, thus: "In these schools poor children shall be 
taught reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, and such branches 
of the mathematics as may qualify them for the professions they 



History of the City of Washington. 321 

are intended to follow ; and they shall receive such other instruc- 
tion as is given to pay pupils, as the board may, from time to 
time, direct; and pay pupils shall, besides, be instructed in 
geography and in the latin language. ' ' Pay pupils were charged 
five dollars a quarter for tuition. 

Each principal, in connection with the superintending com- 
mittee, directed his school, but was subjected to intervention by 
the board. He received $500 a year, payable quarterly. If the 
number of pay pupils in his school exceeded fifty, his salary 
might be increased by the board. Out of this salary he was 
required to pay the rent of the school house, for fuel and other 
incidentals, as well as for assistant teacher^. Fifty dollars a 
year was allowed for "paper, pens, ink, and books necessary for 
the instruction of poor children." 

Toward the close of the first decade of the century a school 
society was organized in Georgetown with Thomas Corcoran as 
its president. This movement resulted in the establishment in 
1811 of a school on the Lancastrian system, supported by popu- 
lar subscription, at the head of which was placed Mr. Robert 
Ould, an Englishman, who had been recommended by Joseph 
Lancaster, the founder of this system of schools. In 1812 the 
corporation provided for an addition to the school building for 
the accommodation of female pupils. 

There were numerous private schools in Washington in its 
earliest days and Georgetown had several good institutions of 
learning when Washington was originated. The Reverend A. T. 
McCormick organized a school on Capitol Hill in 1802, where 
he taught the common branches of studies. This school was 
successfully continued for many years. 

In 1803 Francis Donnelly opened another school "in a 
building then lately occupied as an auction store, near the West 
Market." This same year Mr. J. Sewell opened a school on F 
Street. 

Georgetown, which was a town of importance when the 
Federal City was born, had several good schools before the 
Government became established in Washington. The most im- 



322 History of the City of Washington. 

portant of these was established in 1785, by the Reverend John 
Carroll, First Archbishop of Baltimore, together with five men 
of influence in the community. These gentlemen established 
an "Academy at Georgetown, Potomac River, Maryland." 

In 1789 this enterprise was furthered by the erecting of 
the "South East College" building, and in 1791 the school was 
opened to students. Later the institution was called the "Col- 
lege of Georgetown." In 1815 this college had so grown in 
efficiency that an Act of Congress was passed, raising it. to the 
rank of a university, which was empowered to confer degrees 
in the arts and sciences. 

In 1803, the Columbian Academy of Georgetown, under the 
supervision of Reverend David Wiley, was doing good work, 
with seventy-five pupils in attendance. 

A school worthy of special note is one that was built in 
1807, the first school established for colored children. George 
Bell, an ex-slave, was the leader of the movement for this school, 
and he was greatly assisted by Nicholas Franklin and Moses 
Liverpool, who had also been slaves. Bell and his wife had 
bought the freedom of one another. 

This school had a one-story frame building, and was taught 
by a Mr. Lowe, a white man. The school continued for a few 
years and then ceased, but in 1818 the building, which had been 
used as a residence, was again converted into a school house 
and a school for negro children started in it by the "Resolute 
Beneficial Society," of which William Costin was President, 
James Harris, secretary, and George Bell, treasurer. A night 
school was added and both the night and day schools continued 
several years. The first teacher of this restored school was a 
Mr. Pierpont, of Massachusetts, and the next was the first negro 
to teach in the District, John Adams. 

The social life of Washington from the beginning centered 
largely about the President's house and took its character from 
the entertainments given there. When the Government was 
removed to Washington in 1800 it found an established social 
caste among the old residents of Georgetown and the owners of 



History of the City of Washington. 323 

estates in the surrounding country, both in Maryland and in 
Virginia. The Georgetown balls or assemblies had been note- 
worthy events since the Revolution. For some time following 
the removal of the Government to Washington the dearth of 
accommodations in the new city caused much of the social 
activity of the time to continue to center at Georgetown. 

Mrs. Adams, on her arrival at the new capital, continued 
the formal "drawing rooms" which President and Mrs. Wash- 
ington had inaugurated in Philadelphia; but President Jeffer- 
son, on coming into office, threw down the social barriers which 
his predecessors had established and admitted all classes to his 
receptions. He, however, maintained a special degree of dignity 
at the state dinners which were usually presided over by Mrs. 
Madison, occasionally with the assistance of one of the Presi- 
dent's married daughters. 

On March 4, 1801, Mr. Jefferson, in company with a num- 
ber of friends, walked to the Capitol from his lodgings at the 
northwest corner of C Street and New Jersey Avenue. His 
entrance to the Capitol was greeted by a salute from the local 
Artillery Company, and he was accompanied to the Senate 
Chamber by the heads of Departments and the Marshal of the 
District of Columbia. 

From the meagre accounts of his second inaugural on 
March 4, 1805, it appears to have been quite as unostentatious 
as his first, and that he rode on horse back from the White 
House to the Capitol, attended by his Secretary and groom, 
along Pennsylvania Avenue. 

Washington society received new impetus with the inaugu- 
ration of the fourth President of the country, James Madison, 
in 1809. The new mistress of the White House, the charming 
"Dolly" Madison, who had so often helped Mr. Jefferson to 
entertain his guests, now had her own way about managing the 
Capital's social affairs, and she soon caused the simplicity of 
Jefferson's administration to be forgotten in contemporaneous 
gaieties. 



324 History of the City of Washington. 

This change commenced with the inauguration, which was 
inducted with much ceremony and impressiveness. Militia of 
Georgetown and Alexandria conducted the new President to the 
Capitol where, in the Hall of Representatives, Chief Justice 
Marshall administered to him the oath of office. 

In the evening a grand ball was given, the first inaugural 
ball in "Washington. Over four hundred guests attended this 
fete. It is recorded that the excitement of the day added much 
animation to Mr. Madison's "pale, student face," and Mrs. 
Madison, "resplendent in a gown of yellow velvet, her neck and 
arms hung with pearls," was the "center of all eyes." 

Two weddings took place in the President's House during 
the incumbency of President Madison. On March 11, 1811, 
Lucy Payne, the widow of a nephew of President Washington 
and sister-in-law of President Madison, was married to Justice 
Todd, of the Supreme Court; and in 1812 Anna Todd, a cousin 
of Mrs. Madison, was married to Representative Jackson, a 
great-uncle of "Stonewall" Jackson. F 

The most noteworthy incident in the early history of the 
city was the coming of the British under General Ross and 
Admiral Cockburn in August, 1814. 

Throughout the year 1813 a British fleet had been in control 
of Chesapeake Bay, and in retaliation for the burning of Newark 
in Canada by the Americans had committed many barbarities 
among the towns and inhabitants along its shores. They had, 
however, for a long time been dissuaded from an attack on 
Washington by the belief that both the land and water ap- 
proaches were guarded by fortifications and adequate forces 
of troops. 

In July, 1814, the fleets of Admiral Cockburn and Admiral 
Cochrane united in the Chesapeake, and alarmed by this demon- 
stration the Government made hasty preparations for defense 
against a possible advance towards Washington. General W. H. 
Winder, who had seen service in the Northwest but was without 
much military experience, was authorized to raise 93,000 men 
by draft. The force actually raised consisted of less than 1,000 



History of the City of Washington. 325 

regulars, together with a brigade of District militia under Gen- 
eral Walter Smith, of Georgetown, numbering about 1,000; a 
brigade of 2,200 militia from Baltimore under General Stans- 
bury, and two other Maryland regiments and one from Virginia, 
giving about 1,800 additional men. Included in these forces 
were eighteen pieces of artillery. The regulars consisted of 520 
sailors and marines under Commodore Barney and 300 regular 
troops under Lieut. Col. Scott. The militia had been raised with 
the stipulation that they should not be called into service until 
the British forces had landed, and were consequently undrilled 
and otherwise unprepared for the exigencies of a campaign. 

The British sent one fleet up the Potomac as far as Alex- 
andria from which they took away several merchant vessels. 
The other force pursued Commodore Barney's gunboat flotilla 
into the Patuxent River, where Barney landed his men and 
burned his vessels. The British land forces, which arrived at 
this time from Bermuda, consisted of four thousand of Welling- 
ton's veterans. The entire British force, including the com- 
plement of sailors and marines from the fleet numbered about 
5,000 men. This force proceeded by leisurely stages as far as 
Melwood, twelve miles from the city. From this point a feint 
was made to approach Washington over the Eastern Branch 
bridge, but the route was then changed to Bladensburg. The 
American militia had reached the city by forced marches and 
many of them were exhausted by fatigue and sickness. One 
regiment, which arrived the night before the battle, was delayed 
so long in receiving its arms that it did not reach the field. 

Upon the near approach of the British, Stansbury's Balti- 
more brigade was stationed at Bladensburg while General 
Winder, misled by the British feint, took position with the main 
body of the American forces at the Eastern Branch bridge. On 
the morning of August 24, learning that the British had gone 
towards Bladensburg, General Winder hastened to that point, 
arriving at about the same time as the British and taking posi- 
tion about a mile in the rear of Stansbury's brigade. Stans- 
bury's line was quickly driven back by the British who advanced 



326 History of the City of Washington. 

to the main line of the American forces. The latter were demor- 
alized by the Congreve rockets of the British and quickly gave 
way under General Winder's orders to retire. Commodore 
Barney's forces, however, maintained their position resolutely 
until their position was flanked and their commander seriously 
injured. 

Lieutenant Gleig, of the English forces, in his account of the 
battle said: 

"Had they (the American forces) conducted themselves 
with coolness and resolution, it is not conceivable how the day 
could have been won. But the fact is, that with the exception 
of the sailors from the gunboats, under the command of Com- 
modore Barney, no troops could behave worse than they did. 
The skirmishers were driven in as soon as attacked. The first 
line gave way without offering the slightest resistance, and 
the left of the main body was broken within half an hour after 
it was seriously engaged. Of the sailors, however, it would be 
injustice not to speak in terms which their conduct merits. They 
were employed as gunners, and not only did they serve their 
guns with a quickness and precision which astonished their 
assailants, but they stood till some of them were actually 
bayoneted, with fuses in their hands; nor was it until their 
leader was wounded and taken, and they saw themselves desert- 
ed on all sides by the soldiers, that they quit the field."* 

General Ross reported his loss as 64 killed and 185 wounded 
and missing, most of his casualties resulting from the attack on 
Barney's battery. An English authority states this to have 
been the greatest number in proportion to the men engaged 
of any which had been inflicted upon English troops in battle. 
The American loss was 26 killed and 50 wounded. 

No stand was made by the American forces until Tenley- 
town was reached from which point they again retired to Mont- 
gomery Court House. 

*Por maps and reports of American commanders see account of 
Joshua Barney by M. I. Weller, Vol. 14, Records Col. Hist. Soc. 



History of the City of Washington. 327 

The British followed closely and arrived at the Capitol 
grounds at six in the evening. That night they burned the 
Capitol, President's House, Treasury, State and Navy build- 
ings, and a number of private houses on Capitol Hill. While 
the flames were rising one of the most terrific thunder storms 
in the history of the city took place and the torrents of rain 
extinguished the fires in the Capitol and President's House in 
time to preserve the walls. 

Commodore Tingey in command of the Navy Yard, acting 
under instructions, burned large quantities of material and a 
vessel which was under construction as well as two adjacent 
privately owned rope walks. 

A detachment of British soldiers went to Greenleaf 's point 
to destroy the stores at the Arsenal there. All the powder had 
been thrown into a dry well into which a British soldier threw 
a lighted torch. An explosion followed which resulted in the 
killing or wounding of nearly one hundred British soldiers. 

Fearing an attack by the militia, the British withdrew the 
following night, leaving their wounded to the mercy of the 
Americans. 

Just before the arrival of the British in the city, Mrs. 
Madison, escorted by a party of gentlemen, left the White House 
and crossing the Long Bridge took refuge in a tavern in Vir- 
ginia where she was later joined by the President. The burn- 
ing of the Long Bridge compelled them to make their return 
by boat. 

The residence of the President was then established at the 
Octagon House at the corner of New York Avenue and 18th 
Street and in 1815 removed to the residence at the northwest 
corner of 19th and Pennsylvania Avenue where it remained un- 
til the restoration of the Executive Mansion. 

After the withdrawal of the British Congress for a time 
occupied the Blodget Hotel building which had been acquired 
for the use of the general Post Office, and later moved into a 
building erected for the purpose by an organization of Wash- 
ington citizens. This building stood on the southeast corner 



328 History of the City of Washington. 

of First and A Streets northeast. It was for a long time 
known as the "Old Capitol Building" and was used during the 
Civil War as a military prison. 

An interesting sidelight upon the Battle of Bladensburg 
is furnished by the following document which is to be found 
in the office of the Auditor of the District. The paper speaks 
for itself : 

"John P. Van Ness 

To Thomas Hughs, Dr. 

To one barrel of whiskey 35| gall, at 68 cts ...$24.31 

Aug. 24, 1814. Barrel 1.00 



$25.31 
The above whiskey was ordered by said Van Ness for the 
use of the Troops on their retreat on the day of the Battle 
of Bladensburgh ; and was drank by them near the Pump 
not far from my store, as they passed by — The amount has 
been paid by said Van Ness to me this 20th day of Oct., 
1814. 

Thomas Hughes. 
Eec'd the above amount of $25.31 from Henry Whitcroft, 
Treasurer of Washington City, March 25, 1815. 

John P. Van Ness. 
Having been satisfied that the within barrel of whiskey 
was got for our Troops and drank by them at a time they 
were greatly in want of it — and therefore should be paid 
for by the corporation, out of the same fund similar 
expences have been paid— you will please issue a checke in 
favor of Gen'l. Van Ness for the same, he having advanced 
the money to Mr. Hughes. 

James H. Blake, 
Mayor of the City of Washington. 
Wm. Henry Whitcroft. Mar. 24, 1815. 

Whiskey acct. for Troops Aug. 24, 1814." 
Hughes kept a grocery store on the south side of Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue near the Center Market. 

On October 18, 1814, the City Councils of Washington 
voted $300 for a sword to be presented to Commodore Barney 
"as a testimony of their respect for the gallantry and intrepidity 



History of the City of Washington. 329 

displayed by himself and the officers and men under his com- 
mand in the defense of the city." 

On March 5, 1817, the inauguration of President Monroe 
took place. On that day the President and Vice-President elect, 
were escorted by a large body of militia to Congress Hall. There 
they were met by the ex-President, Senators and Judges of the 
Supreme Court. From the Eastern balcony the new President 
delivered his address and took the oath of office, which was 
administered by Chief-Justice Marshall. 

During Mr. Monroe's administration levees at the Pres- 
ident's mansion continued, though not so frequently as under 
his predecessor. Mrs. Monroe, owing to physical disability, did 
not mingle as much in society as had Mrs. Madison, but she 
performed the honors of the White House in a creditable man- 
ner, assisted by her daughter, Mrs. George Hay. Mrs. Monroe 
had been a forceful and dignified member of society for years. 
When abroad with her husband in 1803, while he was United 
States minister to France, she succeeded in having Madame 
LaFayette, who was imprisoned at LaForce, set at liberty. 

March 20, 1820, witnessed a wedding in the East room of 
the rebuilt White House, when Maria Monroe married her 
cousin, Samuel L. Gouverneur, her father's private secretary. 

A gloom was thrown over Washington people in the midst 
of these social activities, caused by the news of the death of 
Stephen Decatur, who was shot in a duel with Commodore James 
Barron. 

The quarrel out of which this duel grew was the result of 
the surrender of the frigate Chesapeake by Commodore Barron 
to a search and the impressment of three seamen by the British 
frigate Leopard off the capes of Virginia in 1807. Decatur 
was one of a coterie of officers of the Navy who 
never forgave Barron for surrendering, and when in 1818 Bar- 
ron sought the command of the newly constructed ship Columbus, 
Decatur opposed his appointment so persistently and offensively 
that under the code of the times Barron after a protracted 



330 History of the City of Washington. 

correspondence with Decatur had little choice but to eventually 
challenge Decatur to a duel. 

The affair occurred at Bladensburg on March 22, 1820. The 
men fought with pistols at eight paces. Both fell at the first 
fire; Barron seriously wounded, and Decatur suffering from a 
shot in the groin from which he died several days later. 

In the fall of 1822, ten thousand people attended the races 
in Washington, to witness a contest between "Eclipse" and 
"Sir Charles," two famous Virginia racers. More than a mil- 
lion dollars were staked on this event, some excitable persons 
staking and losing all they possessed of worldly goods. "Eclipse" 
proved worthy of his name, outdistancing "Sir Charles," and 
making a fortune for his owner, including the stake of $5,000 
and many thousands more in wagers. 

The year 1824 was made memorable by the visit of General 
Lafayette, who arrived from Baltimore on October 12 of that 
year and was welcomed by elaborate public ceremonies and an 
enthusiastic display of popular affection. He was given a 
municipal dinner at the Franklin House Hotel, and during his 
stay many social entertainments were given in his honor. 

In anticipation of General Lafayette's visit Mayor Small- 
wood constructed a reception room as an addition to his 
residence, which is still standing at 324 Virginia Avenue, south- 
east. It was Mayor Smallwood's expectation to personally 
entertain the distinguished guest of the city, but his untimely 
death on September 30, 1824, twelve days before Lafayette's 
arrival, prevented the carrying out of his plan. 

The census for 1820 showed the population of Washington 
at that time to be 13,247, of whom about three-fourths were 
white. The slaves, and free colored persons were about equal 
in number, the former being slightly in the majority., George* 
town had a population in this year of 7,360. The growth and 1 , 
development of the city from this time until 1860 is traced in 
the annual statements of Mr. John Sessford, an early resident, 
which were published in the National Intelligencer and have 



History of the City of Washington. 331 

been reprinted in the Records of the Columbia Historical 
Society. 

In his statement for 1822 Mr. Sessford mentions the levelling 
of the ground on the north front of the State and Treasury 
Departments, the filling of the low grounds east of 7th Street 
and south of Pennsylvania Avenue, the completion of the west 
front of the Capitol and of the original wooden dome of that 
building. For 1823 he tells of the completion of the south 
portico of the President's house, the laying of cast iron water 
pipes from north of G Street to F, along F to 12th and thence 
to Pennsylvania Avenue, connecting with the K Street Spring 
near or in Franklin Park, the filling of the low ground between 
10th and 12th Streets adjoining Tiber Creek. The compiler 
recommends the deepening of the river channel to admit the 
passage of steamboats. He mentions also the erection of an 
extensive wharf for the accommodation of the Southern Steam- 
boat Line. The first steamboat on the river was the Washing- 
ton which commenced trips to Aquia Creek in June, 1815. For 
1825 he mentions the planting of trees on two squares of the 
filled low lands south of the Avenue, the completion of the east- 
ern portico of the Capitol, the grading of Pennsylvania Avenue 
from 17th to 22d Street, and the completion of the grading of 
the grounds of the President's House and City Hall. He states 
that at that time there were about 13 miles of brick paving 
averaging 13 feet wide. Referring to industrial conditions, he 
complains of the importation of non-resident slaves to the in- 
jury of free labor. 

During the second decade of the city's existence, industrial 
activities began to assume respectable proportions. In Decem- 
ber, 1910, Philip Pyfer opened an establishment for the manu- 
facture of hides on Pennsylvania Avenue opposite Center 
Market. A similar establishment was maintained by John 
Helmar opposite the house of Dr. Thornton. In 1812, John 
Achmann commenced the manufacture of fire engines in Wash- 
ington. Achmann had learned his trade in Europe and invented 
an engine of his own. His engine is described as having a box 



332 History of the City of Washington. 

of copper, the pumps of brass and the rest of the engine except 
the carriage of iron. In 1811 the Washington Brewery was 
established at the foot of New Jersey Avenue by J. W. Colbert 
and Company for the manufacture of malt liquors. In May, 
1813, a factory for the making of spinning and carding machin- 
ery was set up by R. Parrot and I. W. Westerman of England, 
at the foot of Parrot's rope walk on the Eastern Branch. 

In 1817 two mills were established for the manufacture of 
woolen goods, one of them the Washington Knit Stocking Fac- 
tory under the proprietorship of Isaac Keller, the other the 
Columbia Mills under the proprietorship of George Jackson. 
In 1810 or 1811, A. and G. Way established a window glass 
factory on the bank of the Potomac near the mouth of Tiber 
Creek, from which was produced an average of 3,000 boxes 
containing one hundred square feet of glass each per year. 

Poxall's Foundry, in which were cast most of the heavy 
guns used in the War of 1812, was founded in 1800 by Henry 
Foxall, a former partner of Robert Morris, in the Eagle Foun- 
dry at Philadelphia. It was located about a mile above George- 
town near the site of the canal. 

The commerce of what is now ordinarily contemplated 
under the name of the City of Washington, long ante-dates the 
establishment of the city and goes back to the early history of 
Georgetown. Long before the Revolution it was the custom of 
the farmers of the surrounding country to bring their produce 
to Georgetown from which large quantities of it were shipped 
to Europe. Chief among the articles of commerce in those days 
was tobacco which was hauled long distances either in wagons 
or in hogsheads through which an axle was inserted and the 
hogshead drawn over the roads by horses, this custom giving 
rise to the institution known as tobacco roads. 

Until about 1800 or even later, two channels were open to 
Georgetown, one on either side of Analostan Island, and that 
on the Virginia shore being the shorter was the most commonly 
used. This channel was closed by the building of a stone cause- 
way across it in 1805. Previous to this time most of the 



History of the City of Washington. 333 

wharves and warehouses at Georgetown were located at the west 
end of the town but after the closing of the causeway the mer- 
chants began to extend their shipping facilities along the banks 
of the river at the lower part of the town. 

Prior to 1822 the tobacco was stored and inspected at 
Loundes ' warehouse, a frame building south of Bridge and 
between Market and Frederick Streets. So extensive did the 
tobacco trade of Georgetown become that in 1822, two 3-story 
fireproof brick warehouses, roofed with slate and with sheet 
iron doors and shutters, were built by the corporation. These 
buildings covered three lots situated west of High and south of 
Bridge Street. 

The commerce of Georgetown during the first quarter of 
the century was greatly stimulated by the operations of the 
"Potowmack," afterwards the "Potomac," Company. The 
Potowmack Company was chartered by identical statutes of 
the Maryland and Virginia Legislatures in October, 1784. It 
provided for the taking of subscriptions to five hundred shares 
of stock in the amount of $222,222.2-9, of which Maryland 
and Virginia agreed to subscribe fifty shares each. The Com- 
pany was organized at a meeting held in Alexandria, May 17, 
1785. 

At the Little Falls was constructed, on the north side of 
the river, a canal two and one-half miles long with four masonry 
locks having a total elevation of thirty-seven feet. 

At the Great Falls a canal was constructed on the south 
side of the river twelve hundred yards long with five locks hav- 
ing a total difference of level of seventy-six feet, nine inches, 
the two lower ones being cut in solid rock. 

At Shenandoah Falls, below Harper's Ferry, a canal one 
mile long was cut. Another, three-quarters of a mile long, was 
dug at Seneca Falls and another, fifty yards long, was dug 
at House's Falls, five miles above the one at Shenandoah Falls. 
Neither of the last mentioned had locks. On the Shenandoah 
River six canals, with a aggregate length of 2,400 yards, were 
dug and five locks constructed. 



334 History of the City of Washington. 

In addition to these improvements much was done in the 
way of removing obstructions and constructing dikes and wing 
dams in the Potomac, Shenandoah and Monocacy Rivers. The 
total expenditures, including original cost and cost of repairs, 
maintenance and operation, from 1800 to 1822, was $729,387.29. 
The boats used in this navigation were shoal draft vessels 
of about twenty tons capacity. Some of them were of a 
permanent character and were pushed up the river by poles 
on the return trips. More frequently they were temporary 
affairs put together often with wooden dowels, and after reach- 
ing Georgetown were taken apart and sold for lumber. 

From the opening of the canal upon the completion of the 
Great Falls locks in 1800, to August, 1826, when the Company 
was merged in the new Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, 
these boats brought down 1,309,911 barrels of flour, 48,909 
barrels of whiskey, upwards of 40,000 hogsheads of tobacco, 
and more than five hundred tons of iron, besides large quantities 
of lime from Frederick, and other articles, bringing the total 
valuation to $10,534,000. 

An act of the City Councils, approved July 11, 1818, pro- 
vided that $1,000 should be appropriated for the Western 
School, no part thereof to be expended except for the educa- 
tion of poor children; that the Trustees of the First District 
were authorized to place at a school, for the purpose of receiv- 
ing a higher grade of instruction, any scholars who should 
have arrived at such a degree of improvement as to warrant 
the same, and appropriated $150 to enable them to do so. 

On July 30, 1821, the Lancastrian school took possession of 
an old stable at the corner of Fourteenth and G Streets. 

Mr. Ould, Principal of the Western school, tendered a report 
for the months of June 22, 1824 and June 22, 1825, in which 
he said: 

"One hundred and three scholars are reading O'Neall's 
Geography, Ramsay's Life of Washington, Murray's Intro- 
duction, Reader and Sequel, Terry's Moral Instructor, and 
Day's Sanford and Merton and spell words in Walker's 
Dictionary ; 62 of them commit daily to memory a portion 



History of the City of Washington. 335 

of Geography, Grammar and Dictionary; 51 are learning 
to read Scriptural Instructions; 34 are learning to read 
monosyllables, and 34 are perfecting themselves in the 
alphabet and in words of from two to four letters. 

"Of the scholars learning to write, 154 can write toler- 
ably, and many of them can do the ornamental hands of 
Old English, German Text, Engrossing, and Roman and 
Italian Print. 

"One hundred and eight are in Arithmetic; 38 of whom 
are progressing through the first four rules of Arithmetic, 
Simple, Compound, and Decimal Reduction, Single and 
Double Rules of Three, Practice, Simple and Compound 
Interest, on to Exchange." 

An important incident of the first quarter century of the 
Capital was the determination of the longitude of Washington 
reckoned from Greenwich, an achievement which is to be credit- 
ed to Mr. "William Lambert, a clerk in the Pension office. 

Mr. Lambert's final calculations were the result of a Joint 
Resolution of Congress, passed March 3, 1821, authorizing the 
President to have astronomical observations made to determine 
the correct longitude of the Capitol Building from Greenwich 
or from any other known meridian in Europe. 

Mr. Lambert continued his calculations throughout the 
summer of 1821, making frequent observations with the result 
that he finally reported the longitude of the Capitol as 76° 55' 
30.54", and that of the President's House as 76° 57' 05.33" 
west from Greenwich. In consequence of Mr. Lambert's labors 
and upon his recommendations, Congress established the Naval 
Observatory on the site of the present Naval Hospital. Numer- 
ous errors were afterwards found to exist in Mr. Lambert's 
calculations and upon the establishment of the transatlantic 
cable an additional source of accuracy was obtained. By the 
report of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for 1884, 
the longitude of the Statue of Freedom on the Capitol Build- 
ing was given as 77° 0' 33.54". 

Twice in its early years the city found opportunity to 
respond to the distress of its neighbors. In September, 1803, 
the City Councils authorized the expenditure of $300 for the 



336 History of the City of Washington, 

relief of a number of the inhabitants of Alexandria who had re- 
moved here because of the epidemic of yellow fever which was 
then devastating that town. 

On July 26, 1815, an appropriation of $1,000 was made 
; 'asa gratuity for the relief of the sufferers by the late destruc- 
tive and calamitous fire in the town of Petersburg. ' ' The assess- 
ment for this appropriation like all others at the time, was 
apportioned among the several wards. 

Just before the close of the first quarter century of the 
city the first serious attempt to effect the retrocession of 
Alexandria County to Virginia was made. Meetings for and 
against retrocession were held in Alexandria in March, 1824. 
The project being put to vote was defeated by a count of 404 
to 286 votes. 

Probably the oldest church in the District is St Paul's Epis- 
copal, Rock Creek Parish, which was organized in 1719 as one of 
a string of Episcopal churches extending from Baltimore to 
Richmond, with a small chapel on the site of the present church 
on the Rock Creek Church Road just north of the Soldiers' Home 
grounds. The present edifices was erected about 1775. The 
second oldest church in the District is believed to be the German 
Lutheran Church at Wisconsin Avenue and Volta Place which was 
first established in a log structure on the present site in 1769. 
Christ's Church, Episcopal, worshipped from about 1775 until 
1807 in what had been a barn, about where New Jersey Avenue 
and D Street, southeast, now intersect. In 1807 part of the con- 
gregation erected the present church on G Street between 6th and 
7th, southeast, naming it Christ Church. The West Street Pres- 
byterian Church of Georgetown was organized about 1781, and 
about 1783 constructed its first building at Washington and 
Bridge Streets, replacing it with a larger one in 1821. The 
present Dumbarton Avenue M. E. Church of Georgetown was 
founded in a cooper shop in 1792, and in 1795 erected a small 
brick church on Montgomery Street. The present structure was 
erected in 1849. St. John's Episcopal Church in Georgetown 
was organized in 1796 and its building completed in 1804. Trinity 
Church, Catholic, of Georgetown, was organized by Bishop Car- 



History of the City of Washington. 337 

roll in 1795 and its building completed in 1797. St. Patrick's, 
Catholic, with its first building on F Street near 10th was or- 
ganized in 1797. The First Presbyterian Church was organized 
in 1795 and met for some time in a carpenter shop used by the 
workmen on the President's House and for a few months in the 
north wing of the original Capitol building. In 1812 it moved 
into a new building on South Capitol Street, and in December, 
1827 dedicated its first building on the present site on 4£ Street. 
The First Baptist Church organized in 1802 with its edifice 
at 19th and I Streets, where it remained until in 1833 it con- 
structed a new building on the site of Ford's Theatre. The 
Methodists of Washington first met in one of the "Twenty 
Buildings" at South Captol and N Streets in 1802 or 1803. They 
afterwards occupied Mr. Carroll's barn on New Jersey Avenue, 
southeast, and in 1811 dedicated a new brick church called 
Ebenezer on 4th Street between South Carolina Avenue and G 
Street, southeast. The F Street Presbyterian Church was or- 
ganized in 1803 and in 1808 constructed its first building at 14th 
and F Streets, on the site of the New Willard Hotel. In 1808 the 
Friends erected their first meeting house on the site of the present 
structure. The Second Baptist Church was organized in June 
1810, and occupied a structure near the Navy Yard, being then 
known as the Navy Yard Baptist Church. 

The site and building for Foundry M. B. Church at 14th and 
G Streets were donated by Henry Foxall, the owner of Foxall's 
Foundry, in fulfillment of a resolution taken by him at the time 
of the British invasion of 1814 that he would construct such a 
church if his foundry should be spared. The church was dedi- 
cated on September 10, 1815. St. John's Episcopal Church which 
was the place of worship of every President from Madison to 
Buchanan, inclusive, and later of President Arthur, Mrs. Roose- 
velt and Mrs. Taft, was designed by Benjamin Latrobc and was 
dedicated on December 27, 1816. St. Peter's Catholic Church at 
Z-(^ and C Streets, southeast, was organized May 1 0, 1 820, and its 
first building completed the following year. All Souls' Unitarian 
Church was organized in 1820, and its building at 6th and D 
Streets dedicated June 9th, 1822. Wesley M. E. Chapel at 5th 



338 History of the City of Washington. 

and F Streets was organized in 1823. The Second Presbyterian 
Church was organized in 1820 ; the Fourth Presbyterian in 1829 ; 
the Central M. P. in 1829; its first frame building. "The Taber- 
nacle," being dedicated in 1832; Trinity P. E. Church was dedi- 
cated in 1829 ; The First M. P. Church and the Congress Street 
M. P. Church of Georgetown dedicated their buildings in 1830. 

The commencement of the second quarter century of the 
city's history was marked by the inauguration of President 
John Quincy Adams on March 4, 1825. This inauguration sur- 
passed any other demonstration in Washington up to that time. 
The President-elect drove to the Capitol with ex-President 
Monroe, escorted by the District militia and a cavalcade of 
citizens. 

John C. Calhoun, the Vice-President, took the oath of his 
office in the Senate Chamber and a little later, in the Hall of 
Representatives, Chief-Justice Marshall administered the oath 
to Mr. Adams. 

During this administration President and Mrs. Adams held 
very democratic receptions in the East Room of the White 
House, where people of many classes and nations were wel- 
comed. One good feature of these entertainment^ was that 
guests were required to come early and leave by eleven o'clock, 
an example then followed by other entertainers of Washington. 

In 1826 occurred the bloodless duel between Henry Clay 
and John Randolph near the Virginia end of the Chain Bridge. 
Clay, offended at some remark of the offensive character for 
which Randolph was notorious, had challenged the latter. 
Clay's shot went wide and Randolph fired in the air, whereupon 
Clay expressed his gratification that his opponent had not been 
injured, and a reconciliation followed. 

The year 1827 closed in Washington with a "Fair for the 
benefit of the Orphan Asylum," of which Mrs. Margaret Bayard 
Smith, the wife of the original owner of the National Intelli- 
gencer, Samuel Harrison Smith, said, "Every female in the 
city, I believe, from the highest to the lowest, has been at work 
for it. 



History of the City of Washington. 339 

Conveniences for residents were much improved in Wash- 
ington by the close of 1828, and Mrs. Smith, in a letter to her 
sister in November of that year, wrote : ' ' Never in my life 
have I been so comfortably and agreeably fixed. My wishes 
are completely satisfied. Our house, a delightful one, in the 
best part of the city, surrounded with good neighbors, good 
churches and good pavements which enable us to visit both 
neighbors and churches in all weather. You will recollect the 
situation of the Department of State, etc. — it is opposite to 
this. A broad pavement leads one way to Capitol Hill and 
another to Georgetown, besides cross paved ways in every direc- 
tion." 

Two months later this sprightly woman wrote : ' ' Our city 
is as alive and bustling as New York. ' ' This was at the period 
closing the administration of John Quincy Adams. 

As improvements came and population increased the 
improvident, unfortunate class known as "the poor," became 
part of the city's burden, and in the winter of 1829, a severe 
season, there was much suffering. Mayor Gales appointed at 
this distressing time, three persons in each city ward to receive 
contributions for and to visit and distribute necessities to these 
unfortunates. Citizens were solicited to contribute anything 
they would for the general relief. Congress contributed fifty 
cords of wood and the Treasury Department, not permitted to 
give away government property, sold at cost, fifty cords of 
wood, for the benefit of the poor. 

The White House during the administration of the second 
Adams was the scene of the wedding of Mary Hellen, the niece 
of Mrs. Adams, to John Adams, the President's son, on Febru- 
ary 20, 1828. 

On March 4, 1829, General Andrew Jackson, the first west- 
ern President, was inaugurated. The campaign between Jack- 
son and John Quincy Adams had been unusually bitter, and as 
a consequence Mr. Adams refused to take part in the inaugural 
ceremonies of Jackson. 



340 History of the City of Washington. 

The President-elect was escorted to the Capitol by a guard 
of volunteer Revolutionary veterans. 

John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, was sworn into the 
office of Vice-President in the Senate Chamber, after which 
Congressmen and other dignitaries moved to the East portico 
of the Capitol. When General Jackson made his appearance 
there a mighty shout arose from the multitude below, to which 
Jackson responded by removing his hat and bowing to the peo- 
ple, visibly moved by the honor shown him. He then read his 
inaugural address, after which the venerable Chief Justice 
Marshall, whose privilege it had been to administer the oath 
to so many of the Country's chief executives, now performed 
that honorable duty for the last time. 

After this ceremony the President and his party had diffi- 
culty in reaching the street. Mrs. Margaret Bayard Smith 
relates that the new President mounted a waiting horse and 
rode to the White House. 

The crowd surged down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Exec- 
utive Mansion, where refreshments were served to thousands of 
guests. 

Social affairs in Washington during Jackson's administra- 
tion had numerous upheavals. During the first four years the 
famous Mrs. Eaton, formerly Mrs. Timberlake and previous to 
that "Peggy" O'Neal, who became the wife of Secretary Eaton 
of Jackson's Cabinet, caused much disturbance in social circles. 
Scandal was attached to the name of Mrs. Eaton and social 
leaders refused to take her to their homes or to visit her. The 
President espoused the cause of the ostracized woman, his feel- 
ings still sensitive by reason of an experience just previous to 
his election, when his wife's name had been bandied by his 
political enemies, which cruelty had hastened the death of Mrs. 



In the case of Mrs. Eaton, Jackson found that being Pres- 
ident did not enable him to carry his point. He could order 
men's actions to a great extent, but the men's wives were not 
to be ordered, and Mrs. Peggy held sway over a few only. One 



History of the City of Washington. 341 

gathers from reading that she seems to have enjoyed the sensa- 
tion she caused. She finally brought about dissensions that 
dismembered the Cabinet, but women of the old Congressional 
and society set were obdurate to the end and Mrs. Eaton never 
attained high position in the Washington society circle. Her 
cause was espoused, however, by the Russian Ambassador, a 
bachelor, and by Secretary of State Van Buren, a widower. 
Daniel Webster attributed the election of Van Buren as Jack- 
son's successor to the partisanship he displayed in behalf of 
Mrs. Eaton. 

The social life of the first half of this administration repre- 
sented a conglomerate society, but during the second half the 
etiquette of refined society was in large measure restored. 
Jackson, really fond of intellectual companionship, tired of the 
motley levees which caused useless expense of money and time, 
with benefit to no one. As democratic as ever, he felt the necessity 
of enforcing dignity in social as well as political affairs, and to 
curb the license of the vulgar, while conforming to polite usages. 

During the incumbency of President Jackson the White 
House witnessed three weddings; Delia Lewis of Nashville was 
married to Joseph Yver Pagot, Secretary of the French Legation, 
in 1829 ; Emily Martin, a niece of the President and Louis 
Donaldson, a grandson of President Jefferson, were married in 
1832; and Mary Eastern, a niece of the President, and Lucien 
B. Polk, a relative of President Polk, were married in 1837. 

President Jackson was the first Chief Executive to undergo 
the indignity of personal assault, an experience which came to 
him twice during his term of office. The first of these occurred 
in May, 1833, when the President was on his way. with a num- 
ber of distinguished people, to lay the corner-stone of the monu- 
ment to Mary Washington, the mother of the first President. 
They were on the steamboat Sidney, and at Alexandria the boat 
stopped to take on more passengers. One of these, Lieutenant 
R. B. Randolph, immediately after boarding, went to the cabin 
where President Jackson sat. There, standing before the Pres- 
ident, he pulled off his gloves, ostensibly for the purpose of 



342 History of the City of Washington. 

shaking hands with the distinguished man before him. Observ- 
ing him, the President put out his hand good-naturedly and 
said, "Never mind your gloves, sir." Randolph, instead of 
taking the proffered hand, thrust his own in the President's face 
and exclaimed, ' ' I came to pull your nose ! ' ' 

A sensation was immediately created and several gentlemen 
seized Randolph and hurried him from the cabin. Jackson 
caught up his cane and made a rush for his assailant, but 
Randolph, who had been thrust from the boat, hurried off and 
escaped. 

On January 29, 1835, during the funeral ceremonies of 
Senator Warren R. Davis of South Carolina, at the Capitol, 
as Jackson stepped onto the portico a man named Richard 
Lawrence quickly stepped before the President and attempted 
to shoot him. The pistol only snapped, and the man was seized 
by several bystanders, but before being under control, he 
attempted a second shot, when again the percussion-cap failed. 

The most noteworthy incident of this period of the city's 
history was the cholera epidemic which occurred in 1832 during 
the mayoralty of John P. Van Ness. 

Early in the month of August, 1832, the epidemic of cholera 
which had made its appearance in New York during the month 
of June, broke out in Washington, and gained rapid headway. 
The city councils provided for the appointment of extra police 
commissioners to be associated for a period of four months with 
the Board of Health. Rigorous measures were adopted look- 
ing to the prevention of the spread of the disease, including 
the prohibition of the sale of liquor for a period of ninety days, 
as well as the introduction within the city limits of sea food 
and of nearly all classes of vegetables and fruits. Public 
theatrical performances and evening religious gatherings were 
also prohibited. The prohibitions upon the use of the various 
species of vegetables which were forbidden caused great public 
dissatisfaction and resulted in a meeting of citizens at the 
City Hall on the evening of August 21, which adopted resolu- 
tions protesting against the enforcement of the regulations 



History of the City of Washington. 343 

adopted by the Board of Health. Another meeting however, 
endorsed these regulations. 

The epidemic reached its height in the early part of Septem- 
ber when between 10 and 15 deaths were reported each day, 
although it is believed that fully double this number were 
victims of the disease. By the 1st of October, the disease was 
believed to have departed. 

Throughout the continuance of the epidemic the dead carts 
passing through the city, their drivers ringing a bell and at 
times blowing a horn and calling "Bring out the dead," were 
a daily sight. The total number of deaths as reported to the 
Board of Health was 459. Of these 269 were males and 190 
females; 251 were white and 208 were colored. The highest 
mortality appeared in those ranging from 30 to 40 years of age. 
In connection with this event it is of interest to note that 
in consequence of the yellow fever epidemics in Philadelphia of 
1793 and 1798, the latter of which had caused the President, 
with the administrative offices of both the State and National 
governments to remove temporarily to Germantown, Congress 
had by Act approved February 25, 1799, provided that 

"In case of the prevalence of a contagious or epidemical 
disease at the seat of government it shall be lawful for the 
President of the United States to permit and direct the 
removal of any or all the public offices to such other places, 
as in his discretion, shall be deemed most safe and conven- 
ient for conducting the public business." 
The epidemic of 1832 was not of sufficient severity to result 
in the invocation of this law, and happily no other such visita- 
tion has afflicted the nation's Capital. 

For 1827 Mr. Sessford tells of the completion of the west 
section of the City Hall, and of the Penitentiary at the Arsenal ; 
and of the construction of a large Reservoir at D Street and 
Indiana Avenue, with 2,500 feet of iron pipe line. He states 
that in this year there set out daily five stages for Baltimore, 
one for Frederick, and three for Alexandria ; with three each 
week for Annapolis and two each week for Piscataway. He 
enumerates two steamboats per day for Alexandria, one daily 



344 History of the City of Washington. 

for Alexandria and Fredericksburg, one every "Wednesday for 
Norfolk, one every Tuesday for Baltimore, and one from George- 
town to Alexandria twice each day. 

The census of 1830 showed the population of Washington 
to be at that time 18,827 ; an increase of 5,580 during the preced- 
ing decade. Of the persons enumerated in 1830, about 13,400 
were white; about 2,300 were slaves; and something over 3,000 
were free colored persons. This was the first census in which 
the freedmen were shown to outnumber the slaves. The population 
of Georgetown in this year was 8,441. 

The ' ' Marsh Market, ' ' where the Center Market is now, was 
the center of business activity, and near it, chiefly on Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue, were leading hotels, boarding houses, and business 
locations. The Avenue was the great shopping district and 
promenade of Washington's residents. Gambling was a crying 
evil of the day, and during the sessions of Congress many thou- 
sands of dollars were lost in the Pennsylvania Avenue resorts. 

In his statement for 1832, Mr. Sessford says that the draw 
bridges over the Canal at 12th and 14th Streets were raised 15 
feet to admit the smaller steamboats to 7th Street, from which 
it is to be inferred that some of the steamboats of that time 
were of very meager dimensions. It was in this year that the 
poplars on Pennsylvania Avenue under President Jefferson were 
removed and the Avenue graded and paved in the center with 
nine inches of stone from 3d to 14th Street. 

In 1833 the original Treasury building was destroyed by a 
fire which occurred on March 4, of that year. 

In 1835 the rebuilding of the Potomac Bridge, which had 
been partially destroyed by flood in 1831, was completed with 
a draw at the city channel and one at the Georgetown channel. 
In this year, also, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was com- 
pleted to Washington. 

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company had been char- 
tered by the Maryland Legislature in February, 1827. The 
corner stone was laid at Baltimore on July 4, 1828, by the 
venerable Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and the road was com- 
pleted from Baltimore to Point of Roeks by April 1, 1832. 



History of the City of Washington. 345 

An Act of Congress approved March 9, 1833, authorized 
the construction of a branch line into the District of Columbia, 
conditioned upon the commuting of the stock of the Washing- 
ton and Baltimore Turnpike Company for that of the Eailroad 
Company. On July 20, 1835, the operation of two trains a day 
to Bladensburg was commenced and on August 25 following, 
the service to the original station at 2d Street and Pennsylvania 
Avenue, west, was inaugurated. 

In 1836 iron pipes replacing the former wooden pipes were 
laid from the Capitol along the north side of Pennsylvania 
Avenue to 15th Street, with a sufficient number of plugs for 
cases of fire. From these pipes water was supplied to all stories 
of the present east wing of the Treasury building, which was 
then under construction, as were also the present F Street wing 
of the Patent Office building, a portion of the New Post Office 
(now the Land Office) building, and the new jail on the Gothic 
order at the northeast corner of Judiciary Square. 

The extent of the paved footways in the year 1837 is stated 
by Mr. Sessford as aggregating about 24 miles. 

On March 4, 1837, Andrew Jackson gave place to another 
choice of the people, Martin Van Buren. 

On the bright cold morning of the inauguration President 
Jackson and President-elect Van Buren were driven to the 
Capitol in a carriage reputed to have been made of oak from 
the old United States frigate Constitution, drawn by four 
horses. They were escorted by companies of citizens and a 
volunteer brigade of infantry and cavalry. 

In the Senate chamber of the Capitol the two leaders wit- 
nessed the taking of the oath as Vice-President by Richard M. 
Johnson, after which they and all the dignitaries went to the 
Eastern portico. Here "Old Hickory" received a rousing cheer 
from the people, showing that his popularity had not decreased 
with cessation of office. 

Mr. Van Buren advanced and read his inaugural address, 
after which Chief -Justice Taney administered the great oath. 



346 History of the City of Washington. 

The managers of the Inaugural Ball endeavored to make it 
the most elaborate given up to that time. The price of admis- 
sion was ten dollars, but the ball was a crowded affair notwith- 
standing. The President and Vice-President were seated on a 
dais, where they received congratulations from many dis- 
tinguished Americans and foreigners. 

In 1838 the entire country was shocked by the news of the 
killing of Congressman Cilley of Maine by Congressman Graves 
of Kentucky in a duel at Bladensburg. The contest was with 
rifles at ninety-two yards. Three shots were exchanged. After 
each of the first two Congressman Cilley, in line with his attitude 
throughout, offered to make any reasonable adjustment of the 
difficulty, but his opponent appeared to be determined to bring 
about his death. Cilley 's aim was seriously hampered by a 
strong wind which blew in his face. At the third fire he fell 
mortally wounded. The affair aroused a widespread popular 
feeling which resulted in the Act of Congress of February 20, 
1839, making duelling unlawful. 

During the latter part of President Van Buren's adminis- 
tration the residents of the District were greatly perturbed by 
the hostile attitude of Congress due in some measure to the 
prevailing Whig sentiment among the local citizens. This hostil- 
ity found expression in the refusal of Congress to renew the 
expiring charters of six of the banks of the District. It was 
further manifested when application was made for a renewal 
of the charter of the city of Washington, which by its terms 
expired in 1840. The select committee of Congress to which 
the latter subject was referred submitted a proposed charter 
in which every reference to slaves contained in the expiring 
charter was so studiously expunged as to indicate a deliberate 
purpose to abolish the institution of slavery in the city of 
Washington. The bill passed the third reading but was finally 
defeated upon a motion to reconsider offered by a southern 
Senator who with others from the same section had unwittingly 
voted in favor of it. 



History of the City of Washington. 347 

The result of the hostile attitude of Congress was a lively- 
interest on the part of the residents of "Washington in the 
presidential election of 1840. During the campaign of that year 
a log cabin facing Pennsylvania Avenue was erected in the open 
space in front of the Center Market and maintained as a Whig 
headquarters. In front of it was placed a platform from which 
speeches were delivered, and near it was erected a liberty pole 
one hundred and seven feet high from which was flown a Harri- 
son and Tyler streamer. 

The inauguration of President William Henry Harrison 
took place March 4, 1841. For several days previous to the 
inauguration General Harrison was the guest of Washington's 
Whig Mayor, Mr. Seaton. President Van Buren who had been 
defeated of re-election showed his bigness by dining the Pres- 
ident-elect, together with a distinguished company, where 
politics had no place and the dinner was a genial success. 

On the inaugural day General Harrison rode a splendid 
white horse to the Capitol, accompanied by a distinguished 
escort and a great throng of admirers. Upon reaching the 
Capitol he went immediately to the Senate Chamber, where 
Vice-President Tyler was sworn into office, after which all 
repaired to the Eastern portico, where the great official read 
his inaugural address. After this enthusiastically received mes- 
sage General Harrison took the oath of office from Chief-Justice 
Taney. 

President Harrison survived his inauguration ordeal only 
one month, departing from this life April 4, 1841, much lament- 
ed by the entire country, as a man who had given promise of 
making an excellent executive for the country. 

Vice-President Tyler succeeded him, taking the Presidential 
oath from the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of the District 
of Columbia. 

The year after entering the Presidency Mr. Tyler lost his 
wife, a woman who had made herself beloved, in her quiet way, 
in the Capital city. They had been married twenty-nine years. 
This sad occurrence threw a gloom over the White House and 



348 History of the City of Washington. 

the city for a time, but later • society in "Washington attained 
much brilliancy, the President's daughter and daughter-in-law, 
especially the latter, Mrs. Robert Tyler, after the marriage 
of his daughter Elizabeth in the White House to William Waller, 
on January 31, 1842, usually presiding at the White House 
entertainments. After the President took a bride to the Exec- 
utive Mansion in 1844, society endeavored to honor the new 
White House Mistress in many ways and she was a credit to 
all compliments, being a charming and cultured woman. 

It was after one of the entertainments during this period, 
when much candle-grease had fallen on gentlemen's coats and 
ladies' handsome gowns, that it was suggested, and a little later 
decided to have the rooms lighted with gas, a method of light- 
ing which was then being tried in several places with success. 

Charles Dickens and his wife visited Washington in 1842, 
receiving much attention as "Boz" was well known and much 
beloved by American readers. 

On February 23, 1843, Congress passed an act appropriat- 
ing money for the construction of a telegraph line from Wash- 
ington to Baltimore. The line was completed on May 24, 1844, 
and the following day the first message, "What hath God 
wrought?" was sent over the wires by Miss Annie Ellsworth, 
whose father was at the time the Commissioner of Patents. 
Shortly after the question came from Baltimore, "What is the 
news in Washington?" and the reply was sent back, "Van 
Buren 's stock is rising. ' ' On May 28th, the news of the nomina- 
tion of James Carroll for Governor of Maryland and of the 
nomination of John Tyler for President of the United States, 
by the Tyler Convention and of a lengthy speech of Benjamin 
F. Butler in favor of a majority rule in the Convention came 
over the wire from Baltimore. On Wednesday, the 29th of 
May, news came from Baltimore of the nomination of James 
K. Polk for the presidency by the Democratic Convention. This 
last announcement created so much surprise that the telegraph 
was discredited until the news had been confirmed by special 
messenger sent to Baltimore to ascertain the facts. 



History of the City of Washington. 349 

On February 28, 1844, the gunboat Princeton took a party 
of 400 invited guests, including President Tyler and his cabinet, 
on an excursion down the Potomac. On the return, in firing 
a salute at Fort Washington, a gun burst killing Secretaries 
Upshur and Gilmer, Commodore Kennon, Mr. Virgil Maxey and 
Mr. Gardner, and wounding 17 seamen. President Tyler was 
in the Captain's cabin and escaped. A state funeral for all 
those killed was held from the White House. 

The inauguration of President Polk on March 4, 1845, 
was attended with great display and elaborate ceremonies. 

Vice-President Dallas was sworn into office in the Senate 
Chamber, after which there was the usual retirement to the east 
portico of the Capitol, where the President-elect read his 
inaugural address and was sworn into office by Chief-Justice 
Taney. A levee followed at the Executive Mansion. 

The day preceding the inauguration, President Tyler, the 
retiring incumbent, and his wife gave a reception to their friends, 
at which Washington citizens showed their appreciation and 
warm friendship for the retiring President. In the evening 
General Van Ness, selected by his fellow citizens for the pur- 
pose, delivered an address to Mr. Tyler, expressing the regret 
felt by Washington people at parting from him, to which honor 
the President replied in his happy and dignified manner. 

The day following the inauguration President and Mrs. 
Polk received at the White House, and Mrs. Polk was immedi- 
ately accepted as a graceful leader for the Capital city's social 
affairs, nor was she a disappointment to her new friends. Much 
later in her husband's administration, after he had made the 
usual enemies that fall to a President 's lot, Mr. Clay said to Mrs. 
Polk, "that, although some had expressed dissatisfaction 
with the administration of her husband, not one seemed to have 
found the least fault with hers." 

In 1846 a sentiment among the citizens of the town and 
county of Alexandria in favor of withdrawal from the District 
of Columbia culminated in a petition to Congress having this 
object in view. Congress responded by passing an Act approved 



350 History of the City of Washington. 

July 9, 1846, submitting the question to the voters of the terri- 
tory affected. The election which was held on the first and 
second days of September, 1846, resulted in a vote of 763 in 
favor of retrocession and 222 against it. By proclamation of 
September 7, 1846, President Polk announced that the portion 
of the District derived from the State of Virginia was re-ceded 
to that State. 

During President Polk's administration the war with Mexico 
took place, Washington was represented in the American armies 
by five companies. Of these the first two to go — the ' ' Washington 
Volunteers, No. 1" and the "Washington City Riflemen" — 
constituted respectively companies C and D in the battalion 
which stormed the forts of Monterey on September 21, 1846, 
under Lieutenant Colonel William H. Watson, who lost his life 
in that assault, though Company D was prevented from partici- 
pation in the attack by being detailed to guard the camp. 

The funding of the $10,000,000 war loan authorized by 
Congress was effected by one of Washington's citizens, Mr. W. 
W. Corcoran, who afterward became noted through his bene- 
factions. 

On February 23, 1848, Ex-President, and at the time 
Representative, John Quincy Adams, died at Washington. 

On Sunday, April 16, 1848, a sailing vessel named the 
Pearl slipped away from Washington with 77 fugitive slaves. 
A number of residents of Washington and Georgetown obtained 
the Steamer Salem which started in pursuit and found the Pearl 
anchored in Cornfield Harbor at the mouth of the Potomac. 
Boarding the schooner they fastened down the hatches, bound 
the captain and hands in charge of the vessel, and towed the 
schooner back to Georgetown. Captain Edward Sayres of the 
Pearl was convicted and sentenced to pay 73 times $140, and 
Daniel Drayton was sentenced to pay 73 times $100, both to 
stand committed until their fines were paid. They were after- 
wards pardoned on August 12, 1852. This episode resulted in 
an attack on the officers of the National Era, occasioned by the 



History of the City of Washington. 351 

supposed endorsement by that paper of the attempted kidnap- 
ping of the slaves. 

President-elect Zachary Taylor arrived in the Capital 
February 23, 1849. Here he was met by Mayor Seaton and 
his reception in the city was one of cordiality and high respect 
that, must have filled his heart with gratitude and love for the 
people who so honored him. 

March 4, coming on Sunday, the inauguration took place on 
the 5th, when the usual programme was conducted, Vice-Pres- 
ident Fillmore being sworn into his office in the Senate Chamber 
and the President on the platform built in front of the East 
portico, by Chief-Justice Taney, in presence of a multitude of 
people. 

The retiring President and President-elect had driven to 
the Capitol together, preceded by twelve volunteer companies 
and a Whig escort. After the inauguration ceremonies the 
same procession returned through Pennsylvania Avenue to the 
White House. 

At night there were three balls, one on Judiciary Square, 
where society was displayed in all its splendor ; one at Carusi 's, 
where the military had precedence ; and another at the National 
Theatre. The President appeared at each of these balls during 
the evening, accompanied by Mayor Seaton, and his entrance 
into the ball-room each time was the event of the night, bring- 
ing enthusiasm that shook the structures. 

Mrs. Taylor was not in robust health and did not care for 
the duties of social leader, so her daughter, who had married 
Colonel William W. Bliss, filled this honorable position with 
grace and dignity, during the period of President Taylor's 
incumbency. 

One year and four months after he went into office, Pres- 
ident Taylor left governmental and all other earthly tasks to 
others. He died on July 9, 1850, at the White House, after 
a short illness, brought on from taking part in a Fourth of 
July celebration, on a very warm day. Having been a military 



352 History of the City of Washington. 

hero, he was given a military funeral, General Scott coming to 
Washington to superintend the arrangements. 

On March 31, preceding the death of President Taylor, 
John C. Calhoun, had laid down his earthly burdens in the 
Capital. 

The period from 1836 to 1850 was covered by the four 
year incumbency of Mayor Force and by the ten year incumbency 
of Mayor Seaton, and witnessed a very substantial advance on 
the part of the city. 

The census for 1840 showed a population for Washington 
of 23,364; an increase during the preceding decade of 4,529. 
Of the total number in 1840, 16,843 were white; 1,713 were 
slaves; and 4,808, or nearly three times the number of slaves, 
were free colored persons. The population of Georgetown in 
1840 was 7,312, or over eleven hundred less than in 1830. 

For 1840 Mr. Sessford mentions that there were erected 
one, and in 1841 three, four story buildings, making a new 
class! For 1842 he mentions the completion of the colonnade 
of the Treasury Building. He states that there were then nine 
steamboats plying from the city. 

In 1843 the old jail was altered and fitted for a Lunatic 
Asylum. 

In 1844 the Naval Observatory was completed; a portion 
of Maryland Avenue, New York Avenue, 14th and 10th Streets 
graded and gravelled; new lines of iron pipe laid from the 
spring on C Street down 6th to Pennsylvania Avenue. The old 
jail, which had been fitted up for a Lunatic Asylum, was given 
over to the faculty of the Columbian College for a hospital with 
a large class of students. 

In 1845 Pennsylvania Avenue was graded and gravelled by 
the Government from the Capitol to the Navy Yard, and from 
6th to 15th Street, west, it was completed by pebble-paving, 
curbing, and gravelling. 

In 1846, the brick "North Market" on K Street between 
7th and 8th, was constructed. In Georgetown, a large iron roll- 
ing factory adjoining the Aqueduct was nearly completed. 



History of the City of Washington. 353 

In the latter part of 1846, the first attempts were made at 
gas illumination in Washington. Mr. Crutchett, of Dayton, 
Ohio, illuminated Capitol Hill and North Capitol Street with 
lamps burning " Crutchett 's Solar Gas," which was produced 
from oil and which gave a very satisfactory and brilliant light. 
On December 29, 1848, the President's House was lighted with 
this gas which gave great satisfaction at the time, and in the 
course of that year the Washington Gas Light Company, was 
formed with the object of manufacturing solar gas for supply- 
ing the citizens of Washington. 

After an experience of several years, however, it was found 
impossible to manufacture this gas commercially at a profit, and 
the company erected a plant for manufacturing gas from coal, 
east of 4£ Street between Maryland Avenue and the City Canal. 
This establishment commenced furnishing gas to the population 
of Washington in 1851, through pipes which were laid from the 
works up 4-J Street to Pennsylvania Avenue and thence both 
ways on the latter thoroughfare toward the Capitol and Presi- 
dent's House. Owing to the scattered condition of the popula- 
tion of Washington at the time this company commenced 
operations, its first years were not profitable ones. A circular 
published by the company in 1856 stated that twenty miles of 
street mains had been laid since the completion of the new 
works in 1851, with a total of 30 miles of mains and an annual 
average consumption of 944,000 cubic feet of gas per mile, and 
added "A line of 6-inch pipe over a mile in length was laid from 
the vicinity of the Capitol to the Navy Yard, with only one 
widely scattered row of street lamps, passing many squares 
with scarcely a dwelling house on each, and double lines of pipe 
are in that part of Pennsylvania Avenue near Georgetown with 
quite as uninviting prospect of private consumption." 

In 1847 Mr. Sessford tells of the construction of the five- 
story Winder building at 17th and F Streets ; the completion by 
W. W. Corcoran of a five-story building at 15th and F 
Streets for some of the Treasury department offices ; the enlarg- 
ment of the old Fuller mansion at 14th and Pennsylvania 



354 History of the City of Washington. 

Avenue to a four-story, 150 room hotel occupied by Messrs. 
Willard; the erection of a five-story 72 room hotel at 12th and 
the Avenue which was later opened as the Irving House. In 
that year gas lights were placed around the terrace of the Cap- 
itol and a gas lantern ninety feet high raised above the Capitol 
dome; the east wing of the Smithsonian building was completed 
and the west wing commenced. 

For 1848 Mr. Sessford speaks of Mr. Easby's shipyard im- 
mediately west of the Observatory, at which, he says, many fine 
vessels had been built. Iron pipes were substituted for the old 
wooden ones from the spring on 13th Street above I, and from 
the spring at 3d and Indiana Avenue. The opening of Indiana 
Avenue provided for by Congress was begun ; 4^ Street was 
graded from Maryland Avenue to the Arsenal and the founda- 
tion for the Washington Monument was within three feet of 
completion to the base of the shaft. 

For 1849 Mr. Sessford gives an excellent idea of the extent 
to which the improvement of Washington's streets had been 
pushed. In that year the paving of "the road north of the 
President's House" and of 15th Street in front of the State and 
Treasury Department building was completed; also 13th Street 
from New York Avenue to I Street ; 10th from K to N ; Vermont 
Avenue from I to M ; Ohio Avenue from 12th to 15th ; New York 
Avenue from 7th to North Capitol ; and H Street from Massa- 
chusetts Avenue to the turnpike gate. The City Hall which had 
long stood in a rough state was nearly completed on its south 
front without the wings; the 7th Street wing of the Patent 
Office was under construction, and the shaft of the Wash- 
ington Monument had been raised 35 feet above the base. 

The progress of the schools of Washington during the period 
just covered was substantial but not rapid. 

In 1836 Mayor Force endeavored with slight results to 
arouse interest in this subject. In a message dated June 27 of 
that year he complained that the support provided for the schools 
was insufficient, being only that from the interest (and increase) 
of the $40,000 previously provided by lotteries. "Means from 



History of the City of Washington. 355 

elsewhere are hardly hoped for," said Mayor Force, "and the 
city has no revenue to apply to their support. None of the 
public lots in the city, though liberally granted to Colleges in 
our vicinity, and to other institutions, could be obtained for the 
endowment of our schools." 

In 1841 Mayor Seaton attempted to make the Aldermen 
and Councilmen realize the importance of work for education 
by informing them that of 5,200 children of school age in 
Washington, only 1,200 were in school — public and private. 

The next year he advocated either an extension of the then 
existing system, or the adoption of the New England plan, 
whereby citizens were taxed for the support of the schools 
and all children were entered as free pupils. 

Several churches attached schools to their work and appli- 
cations were made to the city government to give aid to certain 
churches to enable them to widen the scope of free education. 

The indifferent attitude of the City Councils towards the 
schools of the city caused those interested in the cause of edu- 
cation to have reports made by the teachers as to the exact 
conditions of their schools, and these reports published and 
editorially commented upon, caused some interest to be aroused 
in citizens and officials hitherto latent. All white children 
between the ages of six and sixteen years were declared eligible 
to the schools, "to be admittd on prepayment of a tuition fee 
not over fifty cents a month, and furnishing their own school 
books," although the provision was still made that "children 
of indigent parents may be taught and supplied with books 
without charge." 

The sum of $3,650 was appropriated for the purpose of 
building two school houses and for renting rooms suitable for 
such purposes. 

From that time the popularity of the schools increased, and 
as the city's first half century drew to a close, the city councils 
became more liberal in providing funds for their support. By 
1848 ten new primary schools had been authorized, and several 



358 History of the City of Washington. 

others followed in the next two years, with teachers and 
assistant teachers for each. 

Later all charge for tuition was abolished, and a bill passed 
for an annual taxation of every male citizen of one dollar, to be 
used exclusively for the public schools, with the additional 
provision that the Mayor was authorized, when the school fund 
proved insufficient, to supply the lack from the General Fund. 

The Georgetown schools continued to exist largely by indi- 
vidual subscriptions; but many of the original subscribers died 
and the burden became too heavy for those left, so the Corpora- 
tion finally, December 31, 1842, undertook the entire conduct of 
public education in its city by passing ' ' An Ordinance establish- 
ing the Georgetown School." 

In 1844, however, need again appears, as parents and 
guardians of pupils were solicited to make donations to the 
school. 

Funds were so insufficient for the increased demands that 
it was decided to charge tuition, so that on July 1, 1848, it was 
resolved that the guardians of the Town School should be 
directed to charge and receive pay for all scholars whose parents 
or guardians were in the opinion of a majority of the Board, 
able to pay not exceeding $1 per month, for the general use of 
the school. 

At the close of this year the School Board came out in debt 
to the amount of $153.47, which sum was appropriated by the 
city. The Corporation was also solicited for more ample accom- 
modations for the schools. This call was responded to August 
11, following, by an ordinance providing "That for the purpose 
of procuring a house of ample dimensions for the future perma- 
nent accommodation of the Male and Female Free Schools, 
$1,200 be paid to the Methodist Episcopal Society for their pres- 
ent church; and that a 'sum not exceeding $800 be devoted to 
the expense of alteration and proper fitting up for the comfort- 
able accommodation of said Free Schools.' " 

Columbian College had its inception in 1819 with the for- 
mation of a "Literary Association" which had been started in 



History of the City of Washington. 357 

1817 by Rev. Luther Rice, a returned Baptist Missionary. A 
tract of 46'/2 acres was purchased at the site of the present 14th 
and Euclid Streets and in 1820 a building erected at a cost of 
$35,000. The college was chartered by Congress in February, 
1821. Among those who contributed to it financially were 
William H. Crawford, John C. Calhoun, John Quincy Adams 
and many members of Congress and residents of Washington, as 
well as a number of prominent Englishmen. The first President 
was the Rev. William Staughton, a celebrated English clergyman. 
The first commencement, which took place on December 15, 1824, 
was attended by President Monroe, several members of Congress 
and Cabinet officers and by General Lafayette, who was then on 
his celebrated visit to America. The medical department was 
started March 30, 1825, and held its sessions in a building at 10th 
and E Streets, with the exception of a five years' suspension 
beginning in 1834, until 1844, when Congress authorized it to 
use the former jail building on Judiciary Square immediately 
north of the City Hall which it occupied as a medical school and 
hospital until the breaking out of the Civil War. The law de- 
partment was started in February, 1826, with Judge Cranch at 
its head, but continued only one year and was not revived until 
after the Civil War. 

The medical department of Georgetown University was put 
in effect on May, 1851. 

The Columbia Institute for the Deaf and Dumb was incor- 
porated on February 16, 1857, and the collegiate department with 
Professor E. M. Gallaudet as President was organized by Act of 
Congress in 1864. The site was the former estate of Amos 
Kendall, known as "Kendall Green." 

Although Washington and Georgetown were fortunate dur- 
ing their early years in having the services of a number of skilled 
physicians and surgeons, the regulation of the practice of medi- 
cine does not appear to have been attempted until 1817. On 
September 26, of that year the Medical Society of the District of 
Columbia was organized with Dr. Charles Worthington as its 
first President. On February 16, 1819, Congress granted this 
society a charter which authorized it to examine and license duly 



358 History of the City of Washington. 

qualified physicians to practice medicine within the District of 
Columbia. This charter was revived in 1838. On January 4, 
1833, the Washington Medical Association was formed and on 
June 6, 1848, the name was changed to the Medical Association of 
the District of Columbia, and physicians of Georgetown were 
admitted to membership. In 1830 the Washington Medical 
Institute was formed to give instruction in Medicine and in 1841 
the Pathological Society was organized for the purpose of medi- 
cal discussions. 

Homeopathy was introduced in the District of Columbia by 
Dr. John R. Piper, who located in Washington in 1849, and 
practiced here thirty years. 

JBy an ordinance passed in 1853 one physician and one 

apothecary for the poor was provided for from each ward, the 
physicians being paid by the city. 

The commerce of what is now the capital of the nation 
during the second quarter century of the existence of the capi- 
tal city, consisted mainly in that enjoyed by Georgetown. 

On July 26, 1824, the inspection of tobacco, which had been 
the chief article of Georgetown's commerce, was removed from 
Loundes' warehouse to the new warehouse erected by the cor- 
poration. At the height of the business the shipping of tobacco to 
Europe from Georgetown attained in some years as much as 
5,000 hogsheads. The chief tobacco merchants were the firm of 
Laird and Son. This firm was dissolved on the death of John 
Laird on July 11, 1833, and with that event the tobacco trade 
of the town rapidly died away. 

The trade of Georgetown was not entirely confined to to- 
bacco, however, and it did a large importing and exporting 
business with every. quarter of the globe. From 1815 to 1835 
the value of products exported to foreign markets from 
Georgetown aggregated $4,077,708. From 1826 to 1835 there 
were shipped from that port to other American cities nearly 
a million barrels of flour valued at $4,710,540 ; 5,400 hogsheads 
of tobacco valued at $300,000, and other products bringing 
the total for this period to over $5,000,000. Up to the year 



History of the City of Washington. 359 

1835, goods arriving at Georgetown from both American and 
foreign ports reached a total valuation of $3,505,000. 

Among the prominent ships which came to Georgetown 
were the Eagle and Shenendoah and later four ships owned by 
citizens of Georgetown, the Francis Depau, Southerner, Cale- 
donia and Catherine Jackson. These ships first appeared at 
Georgetown in 1836, but after several voyages were found too 
large and were sold. 

Previous to the building of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 
Georgetown was a distributing point for the upper Maryland 
territory, but it lost its position with that event and did not 
regain its commercial prominence until the construction of the 
Chesapeake and Ohio canal brought with it a large trade in 
the trans-shipment of Cumberland coal and other products of 
the upper country. From the time of the completion of this 
canal, the commercial history of Georgetown is in a large meas- 
ure identified with that of the canal. 

The heavy deposit of silt in the channel of the Potomac 
River resulting from the cultivation of the country surround- 
ing the upper portions of the river and its tributaries, made its 
appearance in the early years of the century, and as early as 
1833 it became necessary for the first time to dredge the channel. 
This work was done under a Congressional appropriation by 
the corporation of Georgetown under contract with E. and T. P. 
Ellicott of Baltimore, who executed the work by means of a 
dredging machine. The channel so cut was 4,000 feet in length, 
140 feet wide, 15 feet deep at low tide and 19 feet at high tide. 
Previous to this excavation, the bar below Georgetown allowed 
at some places a depth of only 10 feet. 

The second quarter century of the history of Washington 
is practically coterminous with the period occupied in the con- 
struction of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal. 

The difficulties incident to the navigation of the upper 
Potomac convinced the members of the Potomac Company in 
1822 that profitable operations could be carried on only by 
means of a continuous canal. Accordingly, a charter for the 



360 History of the City of Washington 

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company was obtained from the 
Legislature of Virginia on January 27, 1824, and on May 16, 
1825, the stockholders of the Potomac Company consented to 
the transfer of the property rights and franchises of that com- 
pany to the new company in exchange for stock of the latter 
company. Subscription books were opened October 1, 1827. 
Congress and the city of Washington subscribed one million 
dollars each, and the cities of Georgetown and Alexandria $125,- 
000 each. These with private subscriptions brought the total 
to $3,090,100. Ground was broken on July 4, 1828, President 
John Quincy Adams turning the first spadeful of earth and 
Mayor Gales and many other officials and citizens participating. 

On July 4, 1831, the canal was completed to the first feeder 
at Seneca, a distance of twenty-two miles. The continuation of 
the work from this place to Point of Rocks was delayed by a 
legal contest with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad over the 
question of the right of way to the river bank, but the prior 
right of the canal company was adjudicated by the Maryland 
Court of Appeals on May 5, 1831. 

From this point on the construction of the canal was made 
possible almost entirely by the financial assistance rendered by 
the State of Maryland. In 1835 that State loaned the canal 
company $2,000,000 in six per cent bonds of the State ; in 1836 
it made a second loan of $3,000,000 in six per cent bonds, and 
in 1837 a loan of $1,375,000 in five per cent bonds. 

By means of these loans the canal was in 1839 completed 
to dam No. 6, 134 miles above Georgetown, leaving 50 miles to 
be completed to carry it to its intended terminus at Cumberland. 
At this stage the work came to a standstill for several years for 
lack of funds to complete it. Finally, in 1845, the State of 
Maryland authorized the company to issue its bonds in the 
amount of $1,700,000 and in order to make them salable waived 
the prior lien on the company's property which the State held 
as security for its own advances. The conditions imposed by 
the Maryland Legislature upon the issuance of these bonds were 
very onerous but they were finally negotiated by the contractors, 



History of the City of Washington. 361 

Messrs. Hunter, Harris and Co., who agreed to take the bonds 
in payment and who were compelled to suspend work on March 
11, 1850, as a result of the excessive discount at which they 
found it necessary to sell the bonds. The work was at that time 
nearly completed, however, and was finished by Michael Byrne 
of Frederick County, Maryland, on February 17, 1851, nearly 
twenty-three years after its commencement. 

By an act of Congress approved May 26, 1830, a charter was 
granted for the continuation of the canal from Georgetown to 
Alexandria by means of an aqueduct bridge across the Potomac 
at Georgetown. The work was commenced in 1833 and water 
was turned into the aqueduct on July 4, 1843. The cost of the 
aqueduct bridge was $600,000 of which Congress contributed 
$400,000. The canal to Alexandria with its locks cost $550,000 
more. 

In 1861 the Government took possession of the aqueduct, 
drew off the water and used the bridge for the transportation of 
troops. In 1868 the aqueduct was rebuilt by lessees of the own- 
ing company and in 1886 it was sold to the United States Gov- 
ernment which replaced it with the present steel bridge 
constructed upon the original piers. 

The census of 1850 showed the city of "Washington, after a 
half-century's existence, with a population of 40,001 ; an increase 
of 16,635 during the preceding decade. Of this population 30,- 
000 were white; about 2,100 slaves; and 7,900 free colored. 
Georgetown, with a population of 8,366, showed a gain of slight- 
ly over 1,000 in the preceding ten years. Trade in slaves in the 
District of Columbia after January 1, 1851, was prohibited by 
Act of Congress of September 20, 1850. 

A graphic description of conditions in the city at the be- 
ginning of its second half century is furnished by Mr. James 
Croggon in the Fiftieth Anniversary Supplement of the Even- 
ing Star. "At that period," he says, "perhaps one-third of the 
platted avenues and streets had not been improved, and not one- 
fourth of the building lots; and of the reservations it may be 
said they existed only on paper. The lines of the latter had just 



362 History of the City of Washington. 

then been marked. Then the greater portion of the area was 
wild waste, and land, which included street beds, was fenced in 
and cultivated. Rhode Island Avenue was practically unknown, 
as was also New Hampshire Avenue, north of the "Round Tops," 
as the neighborhood of Washington Circle was then called. The 
short cut to Holmead's grave yard was known as the "Road to 
Holmead's," not as Connecticut Avenue. Twentieth, 14th and 
7th Streets were the only streets cut through to the Boundary, 
now Florida Avenue. The first was used as a road to Holmead's 
and Kalorama; the second, to Columbia College, the. race course 
and cockpit ; and the third connected with the turnpike to Mont- 
gomery bounty, near the old Cross Keys tavern. The entire 
northeastern portion of the city and much of the Navy Yard 
section were commons. In the unsettled portions were to be 
found brick kilns, slaughter houses, grave yards and a few mar- 
ket gardens, with not infrequently a "horse heaven," where the 
bodies of dead animals were left unburied to furnish prey to car- 
rion birds. Two squares northeast of the court house were the 
brick kilns and yards where had been made the bricks for the 
Patent Office building and two squares north of the latter were 
the potteries of Mr. Burnett, and two others were on the line of 
7th Street, one at L Street. Milch cows were allowed to run at 
large, and many old residents kept them with profit, not being 
obliged to pay anything for their pasturage. The only mark of 
improvement in these parts, other than those mentioned was to 
be found by stumbling over, now and then, a cube of stone, mark- 
ed with a number, at the southeast corner of the square. Just 
beyond the city limits were to be found the primeval forests bro- 
ken by farming land. Indeed, few knew where the city ended 
and country commenced. 

The fire companies at this time were the Union, at 19th and 
H Streets ; the Franklin, at 14th and E ; the Northern Liberties, 
at 8th and K ; the Perseverance, at 8th and Pennsylvania Ave- 
nue; the Columbia, at New Jersey Avenue and B, southeast ; and 
the Anacostia, at 9th and K, southeast. 



History of the City of Washington. 363 

The city then owned four district school buildings accomo- 
dating about two thousand pupils. The building of the first 
district was in a remodeled stable opposite the old Foundry 
Church at 14th and G Streets; the second district building was 
a two story brick at 5th and F Streets ; the third district build- 
ing at 3d and D, southeast, and the fourth district building at 
6th and D, southwest, were also of brick. 

While the public schools during the first half century of the 
city's existence received appropriations from time to time from 
the public funds, the establishment of the special school tax au- 
thorized by the new charter of 1848 was practically contempor- 
aneous with the beginning of the second half century. It was 
provided for by act of the City Councils of May 22, 1848 levying 
a school tax of one dollar upon every free white male citizen of 
twenty-one years of age. The Board of School trustees provided 
for by ordinance of November 12, 1858, consisted of three mem- 
bers from each of the four school districts and had practically 
unrestricted powers in the matter of fixing the courses of study 
and appointing teachers. 

Private institutions of learning at that time included the 
Washington Seminary, now Gonzaga College, located on F Street 
between 9th and 10th ; St. Joseph's Academy for girls, at 9th and 
F Streets; Rittenhouse Academy on Indiana Avenue near 3d 
Street; the Rugby Academy, at 14th and K Streets; the Union 
Academy at 14th and New York Avenue; McLeod's Academy, 
on 9th Street between G and H ; the Emerson Institute on H be- 
tween 12th and 13th ; the Central Academy at 10th and E and 
Mrs. Burr's Academy on H near 13th. 

Four markets supplied the city with food products, the 
corner grocery being then little known. The Center or Marsh 
Market was a small brick building from which two long sheds 
extended east and west ; the Western Market, at Pennsylvania 
Avenue and 20th Street, had recently been rebuilt of brick ; the 
Northern Liberty Market was at 7th and K Streets, and the 
Navy Yard, or Eastern Branch Market, was at 5th and K 
Streets, southeast. 



364 History of the City of Washington. 

From Mr. Sessford's annals and other accounts of the times 
it is to be gathered that a number of machine shops, foundries, 
and lumber mills were in operation. One of the important in- 
dustrial plants of the period was the yard for the construction 
of steam vessels established by George Page in 1851 at the foot 
of 7th Street. Here were built the Champion, the Jennie Lind, 
the William Selden and a ferry for the Alexandria run. In 
September, 1851, Page tested the speed of the Selden in a race 
with a New York built boat, the George Washington, from Piney 
Point to the city. The Selden won by ten miles, making the run 
in five hours and forty-six minutes, a record which would be 
considered remarkable at this date. 

With the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in 
1851, an extensive source of power was available to Georgetown 
through the utilization of the water of the canal which there 
had a head 33 feet above the river. This power was employed 
mainly in the manufacture of flour, the grain being brought 
to the mills in the boats operating on the canal. The mills of 
David L. Shoemaker, F. L. Moore, Beall and Shoemaker, Wil- 
liam H. Tenney & Sons; James S. Welch, George Shoemaker, 
Ross Ray & Brother and A. H. Herr had an aggregate capacity 
of from 150 to 300 barrels of flour per day, the shipments from 
Georgetown sometimes reaching 300,000 barrels per year. The 
flourishing condition of the Georgetown flour trade and the 
popularity of the Georgetown brands was largely the result of 
the intelligent inspection and grading of the product by George 
Shoemaker, who annually for 49 years was elected flour inspec- 
tor for the town. 

In addition to the flour mills on the canal was Bomford's 
cotton factory equipped with 100 looms and 3,007 spindles, and 
employing in the neighborhood of a hundred persons. In 1865 
a paper mill was established by George Hill, Jr., at the foot of 
Potomac Street. 

In 1851 the diminutive brick depot of the Baltimore and 
Ohio Railroad at 2d Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, with its 
ear shed extending north along the bank of Tiber Creek, which 



History of the City of Washington. 365 

flowed nearly south at this point, was abandoned, and the new 
station established at New Jersey Avenue and C Street, an event 
which necessitated a considerable amount of street grading in 
the neighborhood of the new depot. In 1855 this depot was 
connected with the north end of the Long Bridge by tracks on 
1st Street and Maryland Avenue. The following year the Wash- 
ington and Alexandria Railroad was completed from Alexandria 
to the south end of the Long Bridge, and an omnibus service 
carrying passengers across the bridge was inaugurated, connect- 
ing the two lines of railroad. 

Passengers and mail for Fredericksburg, Richmond and 
other southern points were transferred from the 11th Street 
wharf to the railroad terminus at Aquia Creek by a line of 
steamers including the Baltimore, Powhatan and Augusta. 

Between Washington and Alexandria were at all times two 
or more steamers making five or six round trips daily, with the 
fare a "levy" or 12|/2 cents. Among the steamers on this run 
were the Phoenix, Joe Johnson, Tom Collyer, George Page and 
Union. 

The Columbia made weekly trips to Baltimore, stopping at 
way points, and the Osceola made semi-weekly trips to Norfolk. 
The Tom Collyer carried excursions to Mount Vernon, and once 
each week the Columbia took excursions as far as Indian Head. 
Two small steamers, the G. W. P. Custis and Arlington Belle, 
carried picnics to Arlington Spring where Mr. Custis had 
thrown open his grounds to the public. 

In September, 1859, the New York and Washington Screw 
Steamship Company placed the Steamer Mt. Vernon upon a 
regular run between New York and Washington. This vessel 
continued to make her trips until the outbreak of the Civil War, 
when she was sold to the Government. 

Transportation to points outside the city, aside from that 
furnished by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and by the var- 
ious steamboat lines, continued to be conducted by old-fashioned 
mail coaches, which connected the city with Rockville, Brook- 
ville, Marlborough and Port Tobacco, in Maryland, and Lees- 



366 History of the City of Washington. 

burg, Warrenton, Middleburg, and other points in Virginia. 

Transportation within the city during the years preceding 
the war was conducted by means of lines of stages or omnibuses 
seating from twelve to sixteen persons. One line ran from the 
foot of the Capitol to High Street in Georgetown ; another from 
the Capitol to the Navy Yard; while others ran to North "Wash- 
ington and to the steamboat wharves. The fare was at one time 
a "fip," or 6| cents, but later came to be six cents or five 
tickets for a quarter. 

In 1858 Congress authorized Gilbert Vanderwerken and 
others to lay a double track horse car line from the west gate 
of the Capitol grounds along Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th 
Street to Georgetown. The promoters succeeded in raising $200,- 
000 for this purpose but the project was not carried through at 
that time, the first car line not being established until 1862. 

The decade preceding the Civil War witnessed a number of 
important public improvements. In 1851 was commenced the 
construction of the wings of the Capitol, the erection of the Sol- 
diers' Home building, and the improvement of the Mall, the 
White Lot and Lafayette Square and the site of St. Elizabeth's 
Insane Asylum was determined upon. In this year also Brown's 
and Todd's hotels on Pennsylvania Avenue between 6th and 7th 
Streets were remodeled and combined as the Metropolitan with 
its present impressive five-story marble front. In 1855 the old 
wooden dome of the Capitol was removed, and the following 
year work was begun on the present dome. This work with the 
construction of the wings of the Capitol continued practically 
through the period of the Civil War. 

In 1854, the assessed value of the real and personal property 
was slightly under twenty-five million dollars, yielding an an- 
nual revenue of nearly $162,000; and the funded debt was 
slightly under three-quarters of a million dollars. 

During the years just preceding the War a very considera- 
ble amount of work was done on the streets, the most interesting 
at this day being the improvement of 14th Street in 1855 with 



History of the City of Washington. 367 

curbing and sidewalks from K Street to the Boundary and by 
grading and flag crossings for a part of this distance. 

From 1850 to 1860 the population of Washington increased 
to 61,122, a gain of 50 per cent. During this period George- 
town's population remained practically stationary, the census of 
1860 giving that place 8,733 persons, a gain of less than 400 in 
the preceding ten years. 

As the city advanced in population the churches steadily 
increased in number. In 1833 Concordia Lutheran Church was or- 
ganized and built, and the First Baptist erected its new building 
on the site of Ford's Theatre. The new building of the Fourth 
Presbyterian Church was dedicated in 1841, and the colored mem- 
bers of its congregation organized in 1842 as the First Colored 
Presbyterian — now the Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church in 
Cooks school building on 15th Street, the site of the present 
church. St. Matthew's Catholic Church was consecrated in 1842, 
and the E Street Baptist Church in the same year. Ryland 
Chapel, McKendree M. E. Church, and St. Paul's Lutheran 
Church were dedicated in 1844; the Church of the Ascension in 
1845; and Union Chapel M. E. in 1846. 

In 1847 St. Mary's Catholic Church was dedicated, the 
land having been donated by John P. Van Ness. It was in this 
year that the first attempt to organize a Congregational church 
was made, but after a few years the members disbanded owing to 
dissension over the slavery issue. In 1849 Dumbarton Avenue M. 
E. Church was erected, and the colored members of Foundry or- 
ganized as Asbury M. E. Church. 

In 1851 Trinity P. E. Church removed from its original lo- 
cation, where Henry Clay had been a communicant, to its present 
edifice 3rd and C Streets. The Sixth Presbyterian Church was 
organized in 1852, and in that year the Church of the Epiphany 
and Grace Episcopal Church were dedicated. Fletcher M. E. 
Chapel, Assembly Presbyterian Church, and St. Johannes' Ger- 
man Evangelical Lutheran Church were dedicated in 1853, in 
which year also Westminster Presbyterian was organized as the 
7th Street Presbyterian Church. 



*> 



368 History of the City of Washington. 

St. Dominic's Catholic Church was consecrated in 1856. Its 
great bell weighing a ton and a half was installed in 1865. In 
1857 Fifth Baptist, then known as the Island Baptist Church, 
Trinity German Evangelical Lutheran and Western Presbyterian 
Churches were dedicated. Waugh Chapel was dedicated in 1858, 
and St. Aloysius' Catholic Church was dedicated in 1859. The 
Washington Hebrew Congregation, which had organized in 1854 
occupied the building which had been for some years occupied 
by the Congregationalists on 8th between H and I Streets. 

After the death of President Taylor in 1850, Vice President 
Fillmore was called to the Presidency, and on July 10 of that 
year Judge C ranch of the Circuit Court administered the oath 
to him in the hall of the House of Representatives. Mrs. Fill- 
more, a scholarly woman more inclined to study than to society, 
filled well her position as social leader. To her is given credit 
for inducing Congress to include a library as part of the 
equipment of the White House. 

The last year of President Fillmore's term was marked by 
the death, on June 9, 1852, of Henry Clay in his rooms at the 
National Hotel at 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. 

On March 4, 1853, occurred the inauguration of President 
Franklin Pierce. General Pierce arrived from his home in Con- 
cord, New Hampshire, a few days before the inauguration, and 
engaged rooms at the Willard Hotel. In addition to the mili- 
tary parade, the incoming President had the personal escort of a 
committee appointed by Congress, consisting of the retiring 
President and Senators Jesse D Bright and Hannibal Hamlin. 
He was sworn in on the East Portico by Chief Justice Taney. 
His inauguration was saddened by the death of his son in a 
railroad accident on the way to Washington, a circumstance to 
which in his address he feelingly alluded with the words: "No 
heart but my own can know the personal regret and bitter sor- 
row over which I have been borne to a position so suitable for 
others, rather than desirable for myself." 

In consequence of her bereavement, Mrs. Pierce, during the 
first years of her husband's administration, appeared rarely in 



History of the City of Washington. 369 

public. Later she took a more active part in social life as a duty 
which she owed, to her position. 

Many brilliant women graced the social life of the Capital 
at this time, notable among them being Mrs. Jefferson Davis, and 
Mrs. Stephen A. Douglas, who before her marriage had been 
known as "the beautiful Adele Cutts. " 

President-elect Buchanan, on arriving at Washington a 
few days before his inauguration, took lodgings at the National 
Hotel, where he was waited upon by the Judges of the Supreme 
Court. On March 4, 1857, he drove to the Capitol with the re- 
tiring President, their carriage escorted by a lengthy procession. 
In the evening the usual ball was given in a hall erected for the 
purpose on Judiciary Square, fifteen thousand tickets being sold 
for the occasion. 

President Buchanan was the country 's first bachelor Presi- 
dent. Having no family of his own, he had been as a father to his 
sister's children, and his niece, Harriet Lane, became mistress 
of the Executive Mansion. She was well fitted for the position, 
and it has been said of her that a more beautiful woman has 
never presided over the White House. 

Social conditions in the Capital during the decade preceed- 
ing the Civil War were marked by the growing rift between the 
northern and southern factions. Each maintained its own circle. 
The southern element was particularly exclusive and maintained 
an attitude of studied aloofness toward their fellow residents 
from the North. Southerners who were obliged to recognize 
northern men in their official capacity refused to recognize them 
or their families socially. 

On June 1, 1857, occurred the election riot which resulted 
in the killing and wounding of a number of persons. This af- 
fair arose out of the attempt of the Know-nothing party to pre- 
vent the participation of naturalized voters in the election by 
the importation of rowdies from Baltimore. 

The trouble started at about 9 :30 in the morning when the 
"Plug Uglies," a club from Baltimore, attempted to drive all 



370 History of the City of Washington. 

naturalized voters from the polls at the first precinct of the 
fourth ward. In this affair Ward Commissioner Richard Owens, 
Justices Goddard and Dunn, Chief of Police Baggot, and officers 
Degges and Birkhead and F. A. Klopfer, a private citizen, were 
injured. It resulted in driving most of the naturalized citizens 
from the polls at this place. An hour later, the imported row- 
dies made an attack at the lower precinct of the second ward 
and fired several shots. 

Mayor Magruder then appealed to President Buchanan for 
military assistance. The request was referred to the Secretary 
of the Navy who ordered out an hundred and ten marines under 
Major Tyler and Captain Maddox who marched to the polling 
place of the first precinct of the Fourth Ward where they found 
a party of the disorderly element awaiting them with a six-pound 
brass swivel under the shed of the Northern Liberty Mar- 
ket at Seventh Street and Massachusetts Avenue. The Mayor 
addressed the crowd which numbered some fifteen hundred per- 
sons and demanded that the polling places be opened. On this 
demand being refused, a section of the marines under Major 
Tyler advanced with fixed bayonets to take the swivel gun which 
was then abandoned by those in charge of it, who, in retiring 
threw rocks and fired pistols at the marines, one of whom was 
wounded. The marines were then ordered to fire with the re- 
sult that six persons, including an infant and two colored men 
were killed, and a number of others wounded. The rowdies dis- 
persed hastily, some leaving the city on foot and some catching 
a train as it was leaving the depot. A force of artillery arrived 
late in the day from Fort McHenry but no further trouble was 
experienced. 

On February 27, 1859, Daniel Sickels, afterwards promi- 
nent as a General in the Union Army, killed Philip Barton Key 
on Madison Place on the east side of Lafayette Square. The 
trial of Sickels and his acquittal on the plea of the "unwritten 
law ' ' are among the f amous' incidents of the country 's legal his- 
tory. Key was a son of the author of the "Star Spangled Ban- 



History of the City of Washington. 371 

ner. " His brother Daniel had been killed in a duel by J. H. 
Sherburne in 1836. 

In the fall of 1860 Washington received a visit from the 
then Prince of Wales — afterwards King Edward VII of Eng- 
land. The Prince had been visiting Canada when he was invited 
to Washington by President Buchanan. During his stay he 
made a trip to Mount Vernon where he planted a horse-chestnut 
tree near Washington's tomb. 

At 6 :30 o'clock on the morning of February 23, 1861, Presi- 
dent-elect Lincoln arrived in the city and was met by Congress- 
man Washburne of Illinois who accompanied him to Willard's 
Hotel. During the forenoon he paid a visit to President Buch- 
anan with whom he had a lengthy interview. 

On February 27, Mayor Berret and the City Councils after 
paying a farewell call to President Buchanan, proceeded to Wil- 
lard's Hotel, where the Mayor in a short speech welcomed the 
President-elect, who is reported to have responded as follows : — 

"Mr. Mayor: I thank you, and through you the munici- 
pal authorities, by whom you are accompanied, for this wel- 
come ; and as it is the first time in my life since the present 
phase of politics has presented itself in this country that 
I have said anything publicly within a region of country 
where the institution of slavery exists, I will take this occa- 
sion to say, I think very much of the ill-feeling that has 
existed, and still exists, between the people from the section 
from which I came, and the people here, is owing to the 
misunderstanding between each other, which unhappily 
prevails. I therefore avail myself of this opportunity to 
assure you, Mr. Mayor, and all the gentlemen present, that 
I have not now, and never have had, any other than as 
kindly feelings toward you as to the people of my own sec- 
tion. I have not now, and never have had, any disposition 
to treat you in any respect otherwise than as my own neigh- 
bors. I have not now any purpose to withhold from .von 
any of the constitutional rights, under any circumstances, 
that I would not feel myself constrained to withhold from 
my own neighbors ; and I hope, in a word, when we shall 
become better acquainted, — and 1 say i1 with great confi- 



372 History of the City of Washington. 

dence, — we shall like each other the more. Again I thank 

you for the kindness of this reception. ' ' 

As there were rumors of threats against Lincoln's life, Gen- 
eral Scott on the day of the inauguration posted soldiers along 
the Avenue and on parallel streets on the roofs of houses. A 
little before noon President Buchanan called for Mr. Lincoln at 
Willard's Hotel, and the two proceeded to their carriage, in 
which, with Senators Baker and Pearce they rode to the Capi- 
tol. A guard of picked soldiers of the regular army formed a 
cordon about the carriage so dense as to hide it from the people 
on the streets. A striking feature of the parade was a float rep- 
resenting the Union on which the States and Territories were 
impersonated by young girls dressed in white and carrying flags. 

At the Capitol Mr. Lincoln and President Buchanan went 
arm in arm to the Senate Chamber where they saw Vice-presi- 
dent Hamlin installed. The party then proceeded to the East 
portico where, from the platform erected over the steps, Mr. 
Lincoln was introduced by Senator Baker of Oregon. After 
this, bowing acknowledgement to the thousands of people before 
him, he read his inaugural address, concluding: — 

"Though passion may have strained, it must not break 
the bonds of our affection. The mystic cords of memory, 
stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every 
living heart and hearth-stone all over this broad land, will 
yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as 
surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature. ' ' 
The oath was administered to President Lincoln by the 
venerable Chief Justice Taney. 

That night the inaugural ball was held in a specially con- 
structed frame building north of the City Hall. The affair was 
attended mainly by northern visitors to the city, as the local 
social element, on account of its southern sympathies, stayed 
away. The newspapers of the day contained many sportive al- 
lusions to the alleged crudities of deportment on the part of the 
President's western friends. At eleven o'clock the President 
and Mrs. Lincoln, and Vice-president and Mrs. Hamlin with 
their party, arrived and were greeted with an enthusiastic dem- 



History of the City of Washington. 373 

onstration. The first levee of the administration occurred on 
March 8. 

On Saturday, April 13, 1861, occurred the fall of Fort 
Sumpter. The following Monday President Lincoln issued his 
call for 75,000 volunteers. Within thirty days nearly fifty 
thousand troops had arrived at Washington and were en- 
camped in the vacant fields about and within the city or 
quartered in the public buildings. 

A London correspondent wrote : 

"It is about forty miles from Baltimore to Washington, 
and at every quarter of a mile for the whole distance a 
picket of soldiers guarded the rails. Camps appeared on 
both sides, larger and more closely packed together ; and the 
rays of the setting sun fell on countless lines of tents as we 
approached the unfinished dome of the Capitol. On the 
Virginia side of the river, columns of smoke rising from the 
forest marked the site of Federal encampments across the 
stream. The fields around Washington resounded with the 
words of command and tramp of men, and flashed with 
wheeling arms. Parks of artillery studded the waste ground 
and long trains of white-covered wagons filled up the open 
spaces in the suburbs of Washington. ' ' 

A grand review of the army was held by General Scott on 
July 4, 1861, on which day Congress met in response to the 
President's call for an extra session. On July 17, the army 
started for the battlefield of Bull Run, accompanied by a large 
concourse of citizens. Following its disastrous defeat came the 
establishment of hospitals, the construction of fortifications 
around the city and the reorganization and enlargement of the 
army until in October, 1861, 150,000 soldiers were congregated 
in the city and its environs. Following the Peninsular and Sec- 
ond Bull Run campaigns the city became a vast hospital in 
which it is estimated thirty thousand sick and wounded were at 
one time under care and treatment. Ovens, constructed on the 
present site of the Capitol terrace baked sixty thousand loaves 
of bread a day, and vast quantities of military stores passed 
through the city to the armies in the field. 



374 History of the City of Washington. 

After the battles of Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run and 
Chantilly in August, 1862, a trainload of nearly a thousand 
citizens of Washington endeavored to reach the battle field to 
care for the wounded, but the destruction of the railroad com- 
pelled them to return after reaching Fairfax Court House. 

During the succeeding year Antietam, Fredericksburg, 
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg each in turn sent its quota of 
wounded to the Washington hospitals, of which upwards of sev- 
enty were established. 

After every battle near the Capital, people from all direc- 
tions flocked there to find their dead and wounded and heart- 
rending scenes gave constant proof of the barbarity of war. 

Washington ladies were constant visitors to the hospitals, 
giving of their means and service to the wounded. In this work 
Mrs. Lincoln seemed to find more congenial occupation than in 
society. Many Washington people not reconciled to the "Black 
Republican" President, as he was styled by some, did not gra- 
ciously receive him and his wife into society, but the President's 
own worth soon made a welcome place for himself, and Mrs. Lin- 
coln held her own dignity in a commendable manner that made 
for her strong friends among her new acquaintances. 

Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration occurred March 
4, 1865, and despite bad weather the fore part of the day, the 
ceremonies were held in the usual way. The procession was 
chiefly a military one. 

In the Senate Chamber Andrew Johnson was sworn into 
office as Vice-president, after which Mr. Lincoln was escorted to 
the east balcony of the Capitol where he delivered the celebrated 
address closing with the words : ' ' With malice towards none, 
with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us 
to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in. ' ' 

This time Mr. Lincoln was sworn into office by a Chief Jus- 
tice of his own appointment, Salmon P. Chase. The inaugural 
ball was held the Monday night following. 

On March 23, 1864, General Grant arrived in Washington 
from the west to take command of all the Union armies, and on 



History of the City of Washington. 375 

the night of May 3 started with the Army of the Potomac upon 
the historic overland campaign. Then followed in quick succes- 
sion the terrible battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, and 
Cold Harbor, the crossing of the James, and the siege of Peters- 
burg, a campaign from which unprecedented thousands of sick 
and wounded were brought back to Washington by rail and 
boat. 

In July, 1864, the city was thrown into consternation by the 
approach, by way of the upper crossings of the Potomac, of a 
Confederate force under General Early. Two divisions of the 
Sixth Corps were dispatched by General Grant from the army 
of investment in front of Petersburg, and arrived by boat on 
the afternoon of July 11, under command of General Horatio 
G. Wright. They proceeded at once to Fort Stevens on the 7th 
Street Pike. The following afternoon they attacked the forces 
of General Early, who, perceiving the impossibility of capturing 
the city, withdrew into Virginia. During this engagement, Presi- 
dent Lincoln was an interested spectator. While he stood on 
the parapet of Fort Stevens a surgeon was wounded within a 
short distance from him. It was only in response to the urgent 
importunings of General Wright that he finally stepped down 
out of range of the passing bullets. 

On April 9, 1865, the city, with the entire North, was thrown 
into a delirium of joy by word of the surrender at Appomatox. 
Six days later North and South alike were staggered by the news 
that President Lincoln had been assassinated. 

On the fateful night of April 14, 1865, the President and 
his wife had gone to Ford's theatre to see Laura Keene in "Our 
American Cousin." The President's entrance into the theatre 
was the cause of much commotion. Although the first act had 
begun, the performance ceased, the orchestra burst forth with 
'"Hail to the Chief," and the audience rose en masse, waving 
handkerchiefs and hats and cheering lustily. 

All went well until second scene of the third act was reach- 
ed. The President at the time occupied a box at the south end 
of the stage. With him were Mrs. Lincoln, a Miss Harris, and 



376 History of the City of Washington. 

Major Henry R. Rathbone. The only actor on the stage at the 
time was a young man named Harry Hawk. 

At about fifteen minutes past 10 o'clock a pistol shot rang 
out, surprising, though not alarming the audience, as it was 
first thought to be part of the play. A moment later Mrs. Lin- 
coln screamed and John Wilkes Booth, a young actor of great 
promise, who had gained access to the President's box, leaped 
from the box to the stage, flashing a dagger tragically and cry- 
ing/ 'Sic semper tyrannis!" 

As Booth jumped from the box on to the stage, a height of 
about nine feet, his right spur caught in the blue part of an Am- 
erican flag which was draped around the box, and tore out a 
piece which he dragged half way across the stage. He struck the 
stage floor with such force that he broke the fibula or small 
bone in his left leg. Despite this accident he faced the audi- 
ence, cried "The South is avenged!" and made his escape 
behind the scenes. 

Major Rathbone, when he heard the fatal shot, attempted to 
seize Booth, who was standing immediately behind the Presi- 
dent, and who made a thrust with a dagger at Rathbone 's breast 
which the latter parried with his left arm receiving a wound 
several inches deep in that arm between the elbow and shoulder. 

When the shot was fired President Lincoln was looking 
down at some person in the orchestra. The pistol ball entered 
the back part of the left side of his head just behind his ear and 
lodged in the front part of the brain a short distance behind the 
right eye. 

President Lincoln was carried across the street to house No. 
516 Tenth Street, directly opposite the theatre, the home of a 
Mr. Peterson, where he died at 7 :22 o'clock the next morning. 

Booth, upon leaving the theatre, mounted a horse which 
was being held for him in the back alley running north and 
south, by a hanger on at the theatre called Peanut John, whom 
Edward Spangler had sent out for that purpose. He rode up 
to F Street, thence to 9th Street ; down Ninth to E ; along E to 
and through Judiciary Square ; down 4th to Indiana Avenue ; 



History of the City of Washington. 377 

by way of Indiana Avenue, the Capitol Grounds and Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue to Eleventh Street east, and thence to the Navy 
Yard Bridge, where he was halted by Sergeant Silas T. Cobb, in 
charge of the Bridge guard. He said his name was Smith, and 
gave a satisfactory explanation to the sergeant, who passed him 
across the bridge. A few minutes later, David R. Herold rode 
up to the bridge, and was also passed by the sergeant. 

The two reached the tavern at Surrattsville kept by John 
K. Lloyd, about mid-night and obtained a carbine and some 
whiskey. 

Booth and Herold continued in the bright moonlight toward 
southern Maryland and stopped a short time before daybreak 
on Saturday morning at the house of Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, 
about twenty miles southeast of Washington. The doctor with 
the assistance of his wife, dressed Booth's fractured leg, which, 
Booth told him, was caused by his horse falling upon him. 

After leaving Dr. Mudd's they were hidden by Samuel Cox 
in a small isolated pine grove, densely undergrown with laurel 
and holly, about five miles northeast of Pope's Creek, where 
they remained for six days in a state of wretched untidiness, on 
several occasions hearing searching parties of cavalry ride past 
their place of concealment. They were furnished provisions and 
information by a farmer named Thomas A. Jones, who visited 
them seven times, and on the cloudy, foggy night of the next 
Friday conducted them to the Potomac River to a place called 
Dent's Meadow, a mile or two north of Pope's Creek, where a 
small stream entered the Potomac River. The journey from the 
pine grove to the river was extremely hazardous, as they had to 
pass two houses, at one of which a number of dogs were kept. 
Booth rode a horse on account of his broken leg until within 300 
yards from the river, when they came to a fence which they 
could not remove, and Booth had to walk in extreme torture 
down the steep bluff to the shore, supported by the others. Af- 
ter putting Booth and Herold in a row-boat, Jones lighted a 
candle and showed them the way to Virginia by means of a 
compass which Booth had. 



378 History of the City of Washington. 

The tide was flooding so strongly that it carried them to 
Nanjemoy Creek, several miles up the river on the same side 
from which they started. Here they remained all day Saturday, 
visiting the house of Colonel J. J. Hughes, who fed them and 
told them how to reach Mrs. Quesenberry's, near Machodoc 
Creek on the Virginia Shore, to whom Jones had given them a 
letter of introduction. Saturday night they crossed the river to 
Gambo Creek, near the mouth of Machodoc Creek. On Monday 
they were carried to Port Conway on the Rappahannock River, 
which they crossed at noon of that day to Port Royal, accompan- 
ied by three officers of the former Confederate Army, to whom 
they caused great concern by telling their names and their 
crimes. It is of interest respecting the disputes as to Booth's 
identity that one of these officers named W. S. Jett, testified at 
the trial that he noticed the initials "J. W. B." on Booth's 
hand. 

Booth and Herold then went to the house of Mr. Richard 
H. Garrett, about three miles south of Port Royal where they 
slept Monday night. On Tuesday night they slept in the barn, 
which was surrounded about one o'clock of that night by Federal 
cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant E. P. Doherty. Booth re- 
fused to surrender but offered to come out if the troops were 
withdrawn so as to give him a chance. The barn was set on fire 
and Herold came out and surrendered. Booth, who could easily 
be seen by the light of the fire through the cracks in the barn 
was shot with a revolver through one of the cracks, by a soldier 
named Boston Corbett. The ball entered the right side of his 
neck a little back of his ear and came out a little higher on the 
other side. He was taken to Garrett's house and laid on the 
porch where he died about seven o'clock in the morning. His 
last words were : ' ' Tell mother I die for my country. ' ' 

The body of Booth was brought to the city of Washington, 
and buried in the old penitentiary enclosure at Arsenal Point 
where the War College buildings are now located, and four 
years afterwards was exhumed and identified by his dentist in 



History of the City of Washington. 379 

(Washington and then removed to the Greenmont cemetery in 
Baltimore city where it was reinterred and remains. 

About the same time that the President was shot, Lewis 
Payne, whose real name was Lewis Thornton Powell, and who 
was the son of a Baptist minister in North Carolina, entered the 
room where Secretary of State, "William H. Seward, who resided 
on Madison Place, where the Belasco Theatre now stands, was 
lying ill in bed, and stabbed him in the right cheek and in both 
sides of his neck. In gaining access to the room he met both of 
the sons of Secretary Seward and assaulted them, fracturing 
the skull of Frederick, and cutting Sergeant George F. Robin- 
son, the Secretary's attendant, on the forehead with a knife, but 
none of the wounds which he inflicted resulted fatally. 

On April 19, funeral services for the President were held 
in the East Room of the White House. The body was then con- 
ducted at the head of a funeral procession three miles in length, 
to the Capitol where it lay in state two days before being taken 
to Springfield, Illinois, for burial. 

According to a statement made by Samuel Arnold in 1869 
and a remark in a lecture by John H. Suratt in December 1870, 
a party of seven including Booth, Herold, Atzerott, Payne, Sur- 
ratt and two others, went in the early afternoon of March 16, 
1865, to the Soldiers' Home to abduct the President, who was 
to attend a play there, but who sent a member of his cabinet 
in his place. It was their intention to capture him in his carri- 
age and drive it to the Potomac River in southern Maryland, and 
carry him across into Virginia. 

David E. Herold, George A. Atzerodt, Lewis Payne, Mi- 
chael O'Laughlin, Edward Spangler, Samuel Arnold, Mary 
E. Surratt and Dr. Samuel A. Mudd were tried for conspiracy 
to assassinate the President and other officers of the Federal 
Government at Washington. The "Military Commission" by 
which they were tried was composed of Major-General David 
Hunter, Major-General Lewis Wallace, Brevet Major-General 
August V. Kautz, Brigadier-General Albion P. Howe, Brigadier- 
General Robert S. Foster, Brevet Brigadier-General Cyrus B. 



380 History of the City of Washington. 

Comstoek, Brigadier-General T. M. Harris, Brevet Colonel Hor- 
ace Porter, Lieutenant-Colonel David R. Clendenin, and Briga- 
dier-General Joseph Holt, Judge Advocate and Recorder of the 
Commission, and held its sessions from May 19th until June 30th 
1865, in a room in the northeast corner of the old penitentiary 
which was located at Greenleaf Point. 

Mrs. Surratt, Atzerodt, Herold and Payne were condemned 
to death, and were hanged on the 7th of July 1865 in the walled 
yard of the penitentiary. 

Dr. Mudd, O'Laughlin and Arnold were sentenced to life 
imprisonment at hard labor, and Spangler to imprisonment at 
hard labor for six years, and were committed to the Military 
Prison at Dry Tortugas Island, on the Gulf Coast of Florida. 
They were pardoned a few years later. 

The state of popular feeling at this time, was largly res- 
ponsible for the execution of Mrs. Surratt, which in the calmer 
judgment of after years is generally regarded as an act of 
undue severity. The evidence is convincing, that under the 
magnetic influence of the melo dramatic Booth she was involved 
in a plot to abduct the President ; but her remarks just before 
the assassination and previously, and her expression of aston- 
ishment when she first heard of it, imply a reasonable doubt 
that she had any complicity in Booth's murderous purpose. 
The memorandum found on his person, when dead, indicates 
that his determination to kill the President was a sudden im- 
pulse of a few hours inception. The fact that Booth called 
upon her at her residence a few hours before the murder 
imports little in view of her statement on the afternoon of the 
tragedy, to Louis J. Weichman, the principal witness against 
her at the trial, "Yes, and Booth is crazy on one subject, and 
I am going to give him a good scolding the next time I see 
him." Certainly that evidence would have had weight in 
mitigating her sentence, if given at her trial. 

On May 23 and 24, 1865, occurred the grand review of the 
Union Armies by President Johnson and General Grant. On 
the first day from 9 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon the 



History of the City of Washington. 381 

troops of the Army of the Potomac, lead by General Meade, 
marched up the Avenue and past the reviewing stand. The fol- 
lowing day the Army of the Tennessee lead by General Sher- 
man, travel worn from the march through Georgia and the Caro- 
linas, followed the same route as their comrades of the Army of 
the Potomac had taken the day before. 

During the Civil war the District of Columbia furnished 
16,534 volunteers to the Union Army. Captain J. R. Smead's 
company of National Rifles, which crossed the Long Bridge on the 
night of May 23, 1861, and marched toward Alexandria, was the 
first body of Union troops to invade the State of Virginia. A con- 
siderable number of young men of the District also entered the 
Confederate Army and rendered meritorious service in its cam- 
paigns. 

Two results of the Civil War having an important bearing 
on the property rights of numerous residents of Washington 
were the Acts of Congress providing for the liberation of slaves 
and for the confiscation of the property of those who had assist- 
ed the Rebellion. 

The liberation of slaves in the District of Columbia was 
brought about by the Act of April 16, 1862, and provided for a 
commission of three members who should assess the value of all 
slaves whose owners could prove their loyalty to the Union. 
This Act was entirely independent of the President's Emanci- 
pation Proclamation. Under its provisions the sum of $914,942 
was awarded for 2,989 slaves, in addition to which one hundred 
and eleven slaves were liberated for whom no compensation 
was paid, though later, on proof of loyalty being made by 
owners, twenty-eight more were paid for. 

Colored persons were made liable to the same penalties for 
offenses as white persons by Act of Congress of May 21, 1862. 

Under the so-called confiscation act, proceedings were 
brought against a number of residents of the District who had 
rendered aid to the South during the conflict. In a decision 
handed down July 24, 1863, Judge Wylie of the Supreme Court 
of the District, held that the property of Southern sympathizers 



382 History of the City of Washington. 

was liable to confiscation under the Act on the theory that the 
owners were alien enemies. A considerable amount of property 
was confiscated under these proceedings — personal property ab- 
solutely, but real property, in view of a resolution of Congress 
only for the life time of the owner. 

Vice-President Johnson was inaugurated on the morning of 
April 15, 1865, being sworn into office at the Kirkwood House. 

During Johnson's administration his daughter, Mrs. David 
T. Patterson, a woman of fine mind, culture and amiability, was 
mistress of the White House, her mother being an invalid. Mrs. 
Patterson was a woman of great tact, and although feeling 
keenly the unpopularity of her father, she filled the difficult 
position assigned to her in a creditable manner that made for 
her true and lasting friends and admirers. 

The most popular society center in Washington during 
those years was General Grant's residence. The General and 
Mrs. Grant gave weekly receptions and these were attended by 
the elite of the city, as well as by old-time friends of the Grants, 
known in humbler days. 

The inauguration of Grant took place March 4, 1869, and 
the day was one of the most enthusiastic the Capital City had 
ever known. 

Owing to unfriendliness between Grant and Johnson, the 
latter did not accompany his successor to the Capitol, his place 
being taken by General John A. Rawlins. 

After the oath was administered to Vice-President Colfax, 
Chief Justice Chase administered the oath to General Grant on 
the East portico. 

President Grant's second inaugural, which occurred on 
March 4, 1873, was memorable by reason of the bitter cold ac- 
companied by a violent northwest gale, the thermometer regis- 
tering two degrees below zero. Extreme suffering was experien- 
ced by both the spectators and participants in the parade, which 
was elaborate and largely military in character. As on the first 
occasion, General Grant was sworn in by Chief Justice Chase. 
As on many former occasions the inaugural ball was held in a 



History of the City of Washington. 383 

specially constructed building north of the City Hall. It was an 
enormous frame structure erected by private contributions at 
an expense of thirty thousand dollars. 

The popularity which General and Mrs. Grant had won 
during their residence in Washington prior to his election con- 
tinued throughout both of President Grant's terms of office. 
During his second term occurred the first White House wedding 
in thirty -two years; that of the President's daughter, Nellie, to 
Mr. Algernon C. F. Sartoris on May 21, 1874. 

The census of 1870 showed the city of Washington begin- 
ning to assume metropolitan proportions with a population of 
109,199 ; a gain of over 48,000 in ten years. Georgetown for the 
first time since 1820, showed a material gain, with a population 
for 1870 of 11,384; about 2,500 more than in 1860. 

The period immediately following the close of the Civil War 
was not notable for any extensive public works until the com- 
mencement of the operations of the Board of Public Works un- 
der the Territorial Government, from 1871 to 1874, as related 
in a former chapter. The only especially notable improvements 
during this interim were the introduction of bituminous side- 
walk and carriageway pavements and the street parking system 
during 1868 and 1869, by Mayor Bowen, and the paving of 
Pennsylvania Avenue from First to Fifteenth Streets northwest 
with wood blocks under Mayor Emery in 1870. 

One important semi-public improvement of a local character, 
which was the pioneer of the era of modern private enterprise 
in the District of Columbia, and is yet one of the indispensable 
market accommodations to the residents of Washington, was the 
erection of the new Center Market by the Washington Market 
Company in 1872 on Reservation number 7 on Pennsylvania 
Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, northwest. This company 
was chartered by Congress in 1870 as a result of the insufferable 
conditions existing in and about the old market which had been 
maintained by the municipality to that time at the same place. 
While the new company was making preparations to commence 
building, the old sheds were destroyed by fire on the night of 



384 History of the City of Washington. 

December 17, 1870. Temporary structures were at once erected 
and the construction of the present building commenced in the 
spring of 1871 and completed in the summer of the following 
year. 

As a result of a quarrel between the market company and 
its stallholders, a number of the latter procured the erection of 
the Northern Liberty Market, the upper story of which is com- 
monly known as Convention Hall, at 5th and L Streets, north- 
west. This market took the name which had been for many 
years held by the old market at 7th and K Streets, and which 
Governor Shepherd had unceremoniously torn down on Sep- 
tember 3, 1872. 

By acts passed by the Legislative Assembly in August 1871, 
and subsequent acts, the sites of the present Western Market at 
21st and K Streets, northwest, and Eastern Market on' 7th 
Street between C Street and North Carolina Avenue, southeast, 
were acquired and the buildings erected; the former at a cost 
of about $100,000 for site and building and the latter at a cost 
of $80,000. 

In 1874 the old Jail at the northeast corner of Judiciary 
Square was torn down by authority of Congress, and its materials 
sold and the proceeds devoted to the improvement of Judiciary 
Square. The present Jail on Reservation No. 17, near the Eastern 
Branch, was authorized by Act of June 1, 1872, and completed 
about 1876. Of the appropriation of $300,000 for this building, 
$125,000 was contributed from the revenues of the District. 

The decade from 1860 to 1870 is notable for the increase 
which it witnessed in the transportation facilities of the Nation- 
al Capital. 

Through transportation to the south by means of railroad 
tracks across the Long Bridge was first effected as a result of 
the military necessities arising out of the Civil War. The Even- 
ing Star of January 16, 1862, contains the statement: "Not- 
withstanding the snow and sleet, five hundred men were at 
work yesterday, preliminary to the construction of a railroad 
from Washington to Alexandria, over the Long Bridge. There 






History of the City of Washington. 385 

will be a single track with sufficient turnouts to accommodate 
the camps in Virginia. It is supposed that the road will be in 
operation in about three weeks. " The same paper on February 
8, 1862, says: "The track over the Long Bridge has been laid, 
and everything is in readiness to open full connection by rail 
through this city to our camps in Virginia. A double track is 
being rapidly laid from the Washington depot to the Long 
Bridge, and when completed trains can run each way the same 
time." 

The tracks across the Long Bridge connected with those 
which had been laid in 1855 from the Baltimore and Ohio depot 
via 1st Street and Maryland Avenue to the north end of the 
bridge. ' A passenger station was established at 9th Street and 
Maryland Avenue. In 1865 the "Great Pennsylvania Route" 
advertised two through trains to the north and west each day 
with sleeping cars on all night trains and offered to take dis- 
charged and furloughed soldiers home at government rates. 
The following year the Baltimore and Ohio, which had suffered 
severely by the military operations of the Civil War, announced 
that it had re-opened for traffic with its cars and machinery 
repaired and its bridges and track again in substantial condi- 
tion ; and the Orange and Alexandria Railroad announced two 
trains daily for the south, leaving the corner of 1st and C 
Streets. In 1870 the Orange, Alexandria and Manassas adver- 
tised "new and elegant sleeping cars from Baltimore to Rich- 
mond, its trains leaving from opposite the Baltimore and Ohio 
depot and from the Maryland Avenue station, from which the 
Washington and Alexandria was also operating trains to the 
south. 

It was the line of track on 1st Street and connecting the 
Baltimore and Ohio depot at New Jersey Avenue and C Street 
with the Long Bridge which Governor Shepherd caused to be 
torn up in 1871, as related in a former chapter. Shortly after 
this incident Congress, by Act approved June 21, 1870, ratified 
the action of the City Councils giving to the Baltimore and Po- 
tomac Railroad a right of way into the city by means of a 



386 History of the City of Washington. 

bridge across the Eastern Branch, a tunnel under Virginia Ave- 
nue from 11th to 8th Street, southeast, and tracks on Virginia 
Avenue to 6th Street west, with a location for its station on the 
Mall at 6th and B Streets, northwest. The tunnel was con- 
structed in 1870. 

The Metropolitan Railroad, giving the city direct communi- 
cation with the west by way of Point of Rocks, was completed 
in 1870 and entered the city from the north by way of 1st 
Street, west, with its terminus at the Baltimore and Ohio sta- 
tion at New Jersey Avenue and C Street. It connected with 
the Baltimore and Ohio by a Y at 1st and I Streets, northwest. 
This road had its inception in 1853 as a project to connect 
Point of Rocks with Georgetown and the latter corporation had 
voted to take $250,000 of its stock. The movement was de- 
feated by Mayor Addison of Georgetown, who in 1856 vetoed 
an ordinance for the payment of the second installment of 
$25,000 on the subscription, and who, when the ordinance was 
passed over his veto, refused to sign the bonds to raise the 
necessary money for paying the installment. The project was 
revived by President Lincoln in January, 1863, when he sent a 
message to Congress calling attention to it as a military meas- 
ure, with the result that a new charter was granted by Con- 
gress, by Act of July 1, 1864. 

With the close of the Civil War steamship transportation 
facilities received an impetus similar to that which attended the 
railroads. In 1865 the New York and Washington Steamship 
Company put the steamers Baltimore, Rebecca Clyde and Em- 
pire on the run between New York and Washington with two 
boats each week leaving the company's wharf at the foot of 
High Street in Georgetown ; and the Atlantic Steamship Com- 
pany placed the screw boats John Gibson, E. C. Knight and 
Fairfax on the same run with two boats each week from George- 
town. The latter company in 1870 became the New York, Alex- 
andria, Washington and Georgetown Steamship Company. In 
1867 a "new express line" advertised a weekly service be- 
tween Philadelphia, Washington and Georgetown ; and the Bal- 



History of the City of Washington. 387 

timore, Alexandria, Washington and Georgetown Steam Navi- 
gation Company opened a service twice each week between the 
cities named in its title. 

Between Washington and Norfolk the Lady of the Lake and 
Jane Mosely were operated by the Plant Line from about 1869 to 
1873, about which time the Lady of the Lake burned at her dock 
in Norfolk. She was rebuilt and the two boats taken over in 1873 
by the Inland and Seaboard Coasting Company, a reorganization 
of the New York, Alexandria, Washington and Georgetown 
Steamship Company. 

On August 8, 1873, the Steamer Wawaset, which operated to 
the lower river landings, caught fire just above Maryland Point 
and was beached near Chatterton's Landing. In the neighbor- 
hood of eighty-five persons lost their lives either in the flames or 
by drowning. 

The period from 1860 to 1875 witnessed not only the inau- 
guration but the extensive development of the street railway 
system of Washington. 

Although the company organized in 1858 for the construc- 
tion of a line from the foot of the Capitol to Georgetown had 
been unsuccessful in carrying the project to completion, a new 
company, the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company, 
was organized under a charter obtained from Congress under 
date of May 17, 1862, with authority to construct a line from 
the Navy Yard to Georgetown with cross lines on 7th Street 
from the Boundary to the water front and on 14th Street from 
the Boundary to a connection with the main line at 15th and 
New York Avenue. This line was completed by the close of 
1862. It had a branch line running north of the Capitol on A 
Street, which then existed as a thoroughfare and passing north 
and south through the Capitol grounds immediately in front of 
the east front of the Capitol building. 

Two years later the Metropolitan Railroad Company was 
chartered by Act of Congress approved July 1, 1864, and con- 
structed its line from 11th and East Capitol Streets by way of 
New Jersey Avenue, D, 5th, F, 14th and H Streets, Connecticut 



388 History of the City of Washington. 

Avenue and P Street, to Georgetown, with a north and south 
line on 9th and 4| Streets which terminated at Rhode Island 
Avenue and 9th Street, and which in 1873 was continued to 7th 
and Florida Avenue, where it connected with the line which ran 
on 7th Street to the Rock Creek Church Road, and which the 
Metropolitan Company acquired. 

The Columbia Railway Company was chartered by Act of 
Congress of May 24, 1870, to operate from New York Avenue 
and 15th Street, by way of New York and Massachusetts Ave- 
nues and H Street, to the Columbia turnpike gate. The Capi- 
tol, North Street and South Washington Railway Company 
was chartered by Act of March 3, 1875. This was generally 
known as the "Belt Line" by reason of the fact that its tracks 
constituted a loop. It started at the foot of the Capitol and ran 
north and west on 1st, G, 4th and Streets and south on 14th, 
and returned by way of Ohio, Virginia and Maryland Avenues 
to the starting point. 

The Anacostia and Potomac River railroad was authorized 
by Act of February 18, 1875, to run its line from the north end 
of the Navy Yard Bridge by way of east 11th Street, south M 
and N Streets, Water Street, 12th and 14th Streets to 14th and 
Pennsylvania Avenue. 

The period of fifteen years from 1860 to 1875 saw a num- 
ber of important developments in the matter of public educa- 
tion, not only in the city of Washington, but throughout the 
entire District of Columbia. 

Notable in this connection was the inauguration of a system 
of colored public schools in the cities of Washington and 
Georgetown under an Act of Congress approved May 21, 1862, 
which placed them under the existing boards of public school 
trustees, and provided that ten per cent of the taxes collected 
from the negroes of Washington and Georgetown be set apart 
for their creation and maintenance. On June 11 of the same 
year Congress created a separate Board of Trustees of Colored 
Schools for Washington and Georgetown. In 1864 Congress 
provided that such proportion of all school funds raised in 



History of the City of Washington. 389 

Washington and Georgetown should be set apart for colored 
schools as the number of colored children between the ages of 
six and seventeen bore to the whole number of children in those 
cities. The first colored school under this system was opened 
in that year. In 1867 five colored schools had been established 
with four hundred and fifty pupils. By 1875 the reports 
showed an attendance in the colored schools of nearly five 
thousand five hundred pupils. 

The subject of providing public school education for the 
children of the County of "Washington had been dealt with by 
Congress in an Act approved August 11, 1856, which submitted 
the question to a vote of the men and women of that section. 
The proposition was defeated by a large majority, as property 
holders were unwilling to be taxed to educate poor children. In 
1862, Congress, by Act of May 20 of that year provided for a 
Board of Commissioners of Primary Schools to consist of seven 
persons to be appointed by the Levy Court, and authorized a 
tax of one-eighth of one per cent upon the property of white 
persons for the support of the white schools, and, in the discre- 
tion of the Board, a like tax upon the property of colored per- 
sons for the support of colored schools. 

In 1871, the Territorial Government, by act of August 21, 
of that year, created separate boards of trustees of white schools 
for the cities of Washington and Georgetown and the County 
of Washington, respectively; and by an Act approved March 3, 

1873, Congress provided for a board of nine trustees for the 
colored schools of Washington and Georgetown to be appointed 
by the Governor of the District of Columbia. These two boards 
were consolidated by the temporary Commissioners on August 8, 

1874, under authority of an Act of Congress of June 20 of that 
year, the consolidated board consisting of three members from 
the cities of Washington and Georgetown and the County of 
Washington, respectively. By Act of September 9, 1874, Con- 
gress increased the number of trustees to nineteen, of whom 
eleven were to be appointed from the city of Washington, three 
from Georgetown, and five from the County of Washington. 



390 History of the City of Washington. 

Notwithstanding the disturbed conditions incident to the 
Civil War, an unusual number of the city's prominent churches 
were established during the decade in which that conflict occurred. 
In 1859 the F Street Presbyterian and Second Presbyterian 
Churches united under the name of the First Presbyterian 
Church and the following year the new structure of this church 
was dedicated. President Lincoln was a member of this con- 
gregation, and it was here also that President Cleveland attended 
services. In 1863 the Washington Hebrew Congregation dedi- 
cated its new edifice. In 1865 the Capitol Hill Presbyterian 
Church commenced services in a small chapel and the buildings 
of Immaculate Conception, and North Presbyterian Churches 
were dedicated. In 1866 the new structure of Foundry M. E. 
Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and Calvary Baptist 
Church were dedicated. The latter was destroyed by fire in 1867 
and rebuilt in 1869. The First Congregational Church was or- 
ganized in 1865 and its building constructed in 1866 and 1867. 
The Church of the Incarnation (Episcopal) and Hamline M. E. 
Church were dedicated in 1867 ; the First German Reformed 
Trinity Church, St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Memorial 
Lutheran Church, and the Gay Street Baptist Church in 1868 ; 
and the Mt. Vernon Place M. E. Church (South), Metropolitan 
M. E. Church, St. Mark's Episcopal, the People's Congregational 
on Street between 7th and 8th, and the Evangelical Lutheran 
Church at 32nd and Q Streets, Georgetown, were dedicated in 
1869. The latter was built on ground which had been donated 
for the purpose by Col. Charles Beatty just one hundred years 
before. 

In 1871 the new West Street Presbyterian Church was dedi- 
cated; in 1872 Grace M. E. and North Carolina Avenue M. P. 
Churches were dedicated, Fifteenth Street M. E. Church was 
organized, and the former Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 
with its name changed to Metropolitan Presbyterian, dedicated 
its new building at 4th and B Streets, southeast. In 1873 Zion 
Lutheran Church commenced services in a small frame structure. 

The buildings of St. Augustine's Catholic Church, which had 
occupied a temporary structure since 1866; Mt. Tabor M. P. 



History of the City of Washington. 391 

Church, and Central Presbyterian Church, were dedicated in 
1874 ; Eastern Presbyterian Church, and the Church of the As- 
cension in 1875; Grace Lutheran and North Capitol M. E. 
Churches, in 1876; Douglas Memorial M. E. and the new All 
Soul's Unitarian Churches in 1878. Adams Israel Congregation 
was organized in 1875. In 1879 the old Friends Meeting House 
was replaced by the present building. 

On May 27, 1870, occurred the last of the numerous at- 
tempts which have at various times been made in Congress to 
effect the removal of the Seat of Government from Washington. 
In the course of debate upon an appropriation bill Mr. Benjamin 
of Missouri moved to strike out a proposed item for the repair 
of the Capitol building, and although he disclaimed that his ac- 
tion had any reference to the question of the removal of the seat 
of Government, such was obviously his motive. By a coincidence, 
the subject was on the same day brought up in the Senate during 
the debate upon a bill to appropriate money for the extension of 
the Capitol grounds. Senator Harlan of Iowa, in speaking 
against this item, based his argument upon a resolution of the 
Iowa Legislature approved February 25, 1870 instructing the 
Senators and requesting the Representatives from that State to 
oppose all appropriations of public funds for the erection of 
new buildings or permanent additions to those now in existance 
or for other permanent improvements in the District of Colum- 
bia. 

Both of the incidents above related were the outgrowth of 
a propaganda which at the time was being carried on by a resi- 
dent of St. Louis named L. U. Reavis looking to the removal of 
the seat of Government to St. Louis. 

Owing to the brief interval available for preparation follow- 
ing the determination of the Hayes-Tilden contest, the inaugura- 
tion of President Hayes was attended with much less ceremony 
than was customary on such occasions. As March 4, 1877, came 
on Sunday, Mr. Hayes was sworn in at 7 o'clock on the evening 
of Saturday, March 3, by Chief Justice Waite, in the Red Room 
of the Executive Mansion, in the presence of President Grant, 
General Sherman, and several others. The inauguration day was 
overcast but mild. Mr. Hayes rode to the Capitol with Presi- 



392 History of the City of Washington. 

dent Grant and Senator Morrill. Vice-president Wheeler was 
sworn in by Senator Ferry, the President pre tempore of the 
Senate, and the oath was a second time administered to Presi- 
dent Hayes on the east portico by Chief Justice Waite. The 
parade was short and no inaugural ball was held. A torchlight 
procession closed the day's celebrations. 

Mrs. Hayes was a prominent member of the Women's 
Christian Temperance Union, and consequently during her hus- 
band's administration alcoholic refreshments were served at the 
White House on only one occasion ; that of the visit of the Grand 
Dukes, Constantine and Alexis of Russia. Nevertheless, the 
social life of the White House was no less elaborate under the 
Hayes leadership than it had been under that of President and 
Mrs. Grant, and the diplomatic receptions, particularly, of Presi- 
dent and Mrs. Hayes have probably never been exceeded in 
brilliancy. On June 19, 1878, a White House wedding took 
place, the principals being Miss Emily Piatt, a niece of the Presi- 
dent, and General Russell Hastings, formerly Lieut. Col. of the 
23rd Ohio Regiment, of which President Hayes had been the 
Colonel. 

In the forenoon of Monday, September 24, 1877, fire broke 
out in the roof of the south end of the 9th Street wing of the 
Patent Office building. Aided by a strong south wind it spread 
rapidly along the 9th and G Street wings. The entire fire de- 
partment was called out, and one engine brought from Alex- 
andria and four from Baltimore, while detachments of regulars, 
marines and militia aided the police force in maintaining order. 
About 1 o'clock the roof of the 9th and G Street wings fell. 
The fire was practically extinguished by nightfall. The damage 
was mainly confined to the roof and upper stories of the 9th 
and G Street wings. 

In consequence of a snow storm the night before President 
Garfield's inauguaration on March 4, 1881, the streets that morn- 
ing were thinly covered with slush. The sun came out early, 
however, and the Avenue was dry when the parade started. Mr. 
Garfield rode to the Capitol with ex-President Hayes and Sena- 
tors Thurman and Bayard. Vice-president Arthur was sworn in 
by Mr. Wheeler, his predecessor. In the Senate chamber were 



History of the City of Washington. 393 

President Garfield's mother, who sat with Mrs. Hayes and Mrs. 
Garfield, General Hancock, who had been President Garfield's 
opponent, and General Sheridan. The new President was sworn 
in and delivered his address on the east portico. The inaugural 
parade, which was elaborate, was under the charge of General 
Sherman who, in civilian clothes, and wearing a great coat and 
slouch hat with a gilt cord, was described in the Star as ' ' curbing 
his horse with a free and experienced hand." The ball was 
held in the newly erected National Museum building. 

Owing to the illness of Mrs. Garfield, the four months of her 
husband's term of office, previous to his assassination saw little 
in the way of social life at the Executive Mansion. 

On the morning of July 2, 1881, President Garfield was 
shot while passing through the station of the Baltimore and 
Potomac Eailroad at the southwest corner of 6th and B Streets, 
northwest, by Charles J. Guiteau, who was concealed behind the 
B Street entrance. The ball passed diagonally from right to left, 
through the body of the first lumbar vertebra without injuring 
the spinal cord, and lodged below the left end of the pancreas, 
where it became completely and harmlessly encysted. The Presi- 
dent was removed to the second story southeast room of the 
depot. Upon the arrival of Dr. D. W. Bliss he was examined and 
sent to the White House. An error in the diagnosis led to the 
overlooking of the track of the ball in the wound, and to the daily 
injection of antiseptic solutions on the right side, which eventual- 
ly produced an immense abscess cavity in the vicinity of the gall 
bladder and a long suppurating channel from the wound to the 
right groin. He was taken to Long Branch, New Jersey, at 6 :30 
a. m. on the 6th of September via the Baltimore and Potomac 
railroad with the hope that the conditions there would be helpful 
to him, but died there at 10:35 p. m., on the nineteenth of that 
month ; one of the causes of death being attributed to the rupture 
of one of the mesenteric arteries which had been slightly in- 
jured by the passing ball. 

The attending surgeons and two experts using an "electri- 
cal induction balance," decided on August 1st, after a thorough 
examination, that "the location of the ball has been ascertained 
with reasonable certainty and that it lies, as heretofore stated, in 



394 History of the City of Washington. 

the front wall of the abdomen, immediately over the groin, about 
five inches below and to the right of the navel," which presumed 
a course directly at right angles to the course actually taken by 
the ball. 

Prayers for the President's recovery were, on the recom- 
mendation of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, 
offered between 10 a. m. and 12 m., on the 6th of September, in 
all churches in the District. His body lay in state in the rotunda 
of the Capitol during the 22nd, and funeral services were con- 
ducted there on the 23rd, on the afternoon of which date the 
body was taken to Cleveland, Ohio, via the Baltimore and Poto- 
mac Railroad, and funeral ceremonies conducted at Lake View 
Cemetery in Cleveland on September 26th. 

The assassin, who was obviously mentally unbalanced, was 
tried in the old City Hall from November 14, 1881, until about 
5:30 p. m. January 25, 1882, when the verdict of "Guilty" was 
rendered. He was hanged in the Jail on the 30th of the follow- 
ing June. 

General Arthur was sworn in at his residence in New York 
City by Justices Brady and Donohue of the New York Supreme 
Court, at 2:30 a. m. on September 20, 1881. A six months' 
period followed during which no official functions were held, 
though the President at times entertained informally and ac- 
cepted the hospitalities of his friends. 

For several months following the death of President Garfield 
President Arthur occupied the granite house belonging to Hon. 
B. F. Butler at New Jersey Avenue and B Street, southeast. 
President Arthur was a widower and during his term the White 
House was presided over by his widowed sister, Mrs. McElroy. 
President Arthur was the last President to make use of the build- 
ing erected as a summer residence for the Presidents at the 
Soldiers' Home. 

On October 14, 1881, the French and German guests of the 
nation in connection with the dedication of the monument at 
Yorktown commemorating the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, 
were officially entertained at Washington. The guests were rep- 
resentatives of families of Rochambeau, Lafayette, Viomenil, de 
Grasse, de 1'Estrade, d'Aboville, de Broglie, and von Steuben, 



History of the City of Washington. 395 

and with them was General Boulanger of the French Army. 
The ceremonies included a military and civic parade to the 
Capitol where President Arthur, aided by General Sherman and 
Secretary of State Blaine, held a reception in the Rotunda in 
honor of the distinguished visitors. That evening Pennsylvania 
Avenue was, after some difficulty, illuminated with electricity 
specially for the occasion. 

The weather on President Cleveland's first inauguration day 
was ideal. President Arthur, Mr. Cleveland, and Senators Sher- 
man and Ransom rode together to the Capitol. Just before Vice- 
president Hendricks was sworn in by Senator Edmunds, an- 
nouncement was made, amidst great applause, of the passage of 
the Grant retirement bill and of Persident Arthur's message 
nominating General Grant to fill the vacancy caused by it. Presi- 
dent Cleveland's inaugural address was delivered, and the oath 
administered by Chief Justice Waite, on the east portico. The 
favorable weather made the parade highly impressive. The 
ball was held that evening in the newly erected Pension Office 
building, this being the first of the many which have taken place 
in that structure. 

President Cleveland was the country's second bachelor 
President, and for the first year of his administration the Execu- 
tive Mansion was presided over by his sister, Miss Rose Eliza- 
beth Cleveland. On June 2, 1886, the marriage of the President 
to Miss Frances Folsom, in the East Room brought to the White 
House one of the most popular of the many lovely women who 
have graced it. The President's wife was twenty-two years of 
age at the time of her marriage, and at once became the idol of 
Washington society. An institution of special interest which she 
inaugurated was a series of informal Saturday afternoon recep- 
tions which she insisted upon holding in order to give the self- 
supporting women of the city an opportunity to meet the Mis- 
tress of the White House. 

The inauguration ceremonies of President Harrilson on 
March 4, 1889, were marred by the cold northeast rain which 
fell all day. General Harrison drove to the Capitol with Presi- 
dent Cleveland and Senators Hoar and Cockrell. In the Senate 
Chamber the President pro tempore, Senator Ingalls, administer- 



396 History of the City of Washington. 

ed the oath to Vice-president Morton and on the east portico 
the oath was administered to President Harrison by Chief 
Justice Fuller. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, 
the parade was memorable both for its extent and its character. 

At the ball which was held in the Pension building, it was 
estimated there were twelve thousand persons. The occasion was 
notable by reason of the absence of all liquors or wines, except 
Roman punch which was served with the supper. 

Mrs. Harrison was assisted in the social functions of the 
White House by her daughters-in-law, Mrs. Russell Harrison 
and Mrs. James R. McKee. 

The close of the first year of President Harrison's term 
was marked by a series of tragedies. Dinner invitations to the 
White House had been issued for February 6, 1890, when the 
death of the daughter of Secretary of State Blaine on February 
2, caused them to be recalled. In the early morning hours of the 
following day the wife and daughter and the French maid of 
Secretary of the Navy Tracy lost their lives in the fire which 
destroyed his residence on I Street facing Farragut Square. The 
funeral of Mrs. Tracy and her daughter was held from the 
White House on Wednesday, February 5th. The death of Mrs. 
Harrison, occurred in the White House on the night of October 
24, 1892. 

On Sunday, June 2, 1889, occurred the latest and probably 
the highest of the floods which have at different times inundated 
Pennsylvania Avenue and other streets in the lower levels of the 
city. From 2d to 7th Street the water was up to the floor of the 
horse cars on the Avenue. Much damage resulted, particularly 
along the water front. The banks of the Chesapeake and Ohio 
canal were washed away for great distances and one of the main 
channel spans of the old Long Bridge was carried out. This 
flood occurred as a result of the storm which caused the memor- 
able Johnstown disaster. Other floods which have permitted 
boats to be rowed on the Avenue occurred on February 12, 1881, 
on November 26, 1887, and on October 1, 1870, when the Chain 
Bridge was carried away. At the time of the last-mentioned 
flood the waters reached the seats of the horse cars as they cross- 
ed the arched 7th Street bridge over the Tiber canal. 



History of the City of Washington. 397 

A cold nortwest wind with, a heavy fall of snow greeted the 
city's visitors at the occasion of President Cleveland's second 
inaugural on March 4, 1893. Mr. Cleveland and President 
Harrison rode to the Capitol unaccompanied. Vice-president 
Stevenson was sworn in by his predecessor, Mr. Morton, and Mr. 
Cleveland braved the weather to take the oath, administered by 
Chief Justice Fuller, on the east portico. The parade was much 
diminished by the non-participation of numerous organizations 
which had come to take part but were deterred by the storm. 
The ball was held in the Pension building. 

On the evening of May 19, 1893, the Infanta Eulalie, the 
daughter and representative of the Queen Regent of Spain, with 
her husband, Prince Antoine, and a suite of nineteen persons, 
arrived at "Washington on her way to the Chicago World's Colum- 
bian Exposition. The following day she was received by Presi- 
dent and Mrs. Cleveland in the Blue Room of the White House, 
and that afternoon received a return visit from Mrs. Cleveland 
at the Spanish Embassy. Five days were spent by the party in 
seeing the points of interest in and around Washington and in 
the enjoyment of many social attentions, among the latter being 
a formal dinner at the White House on the evening of May 23d. 

On June 9, 1893, occurred the second of the catastrophes 
with which the name of Ford's Theatre will always be associated. 
The building was occupied as at present, by the Adjutant 
General's office of the War Department. A tunnel in the cellar 
was being dug, and a pillar in the interior of the building had 
been undermined by workmen and left without shoring. At 
9 :30 on the morning of the fatal day the flimsy support of this 
pillar gave way precipitating an extensive portion of the build- 
ing into the opening, with the result that twenty-two persons 
were killed outright or fatally injured. 

On the 14th of March, 1894, a self styled "General" Frye 
in California demanded of the War Department, transportation 
to Washington and rations for 800 persons who were unemploy- 
ed because of the business depression of that period, various 
groups of whom were formed in western parts of the country. 
They were variously known as Frye's or Kelley's "Army," 



398 History of the City of Washington. 

Galvia's "Hoste," Jones' "Boston Contingent" and Morrison's 
St. Louis "Regiment." 

On the 25th of March, Jacob S. Coxey with two hundred 
such followers called "industrials" left Massillon, Ohio, for the 
City of Washington. They subsisted en route by begging, by 
giving exhibitions, and by various forms of charity, and on April 
7th forty of these men in an exhausted and almost starving con- 
dition arrived at Eckington, on the outskirts of the city, and 
two days later were taken before the Police Court on charges 
of vagrancy, but were dismissed and admonished not to prolong 
their stay in the city. On April 29th, Coxey with 300 more 
arrived and were taken by the police to a camp at Brightwood 
Driving Park. They were permitted to march the next day on 
14th Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, then east to 1st and thence 
back to their camp. 

Coxey and two of his lieutenants, Carl Brown and Christo- 
j>her C. Jones attempted to test their right to speak from the 
Capitol steps, and were arrested. On May 7th they were ad- 
judged guilty of trespass, and on the 21st of that month sentenc- 
ed to 20 days in the District Jail which they served. Some of 
these followers removed to Maryland where they were sent to the 
House of Correction. 

During this period the Frye, Galvin, Randall and Kelley 
bodies reached the District, but upon learning of the disposition 
made of the Coxey contingent, went in to camp in Virginia. 
They were driven away by the militia of that State and became 
a charge upon the District, at the expense of which, they and 
others were sent to their former abodes. Owing to the admirable 
police surveillance no actionable violence occurred from their 
presence. 

A beautiful day, an unprecedented concourse of visitors, and 
most elaborate preparations combined to render March 4, 1897, 
the day of President McKinley's first inauguration, memorable 
in the history of the city. President Cleveland, Mr. McKinley, 
with Senators Mitchell and Sherman, were escorted to the 
Capitol by Troop A of Cleveland. Vice-president Hobart 
received the oath from his predecessor, Mr. Stevenson, in the 
Senate Chamber, and President McKinley received the oath from 



History of the City of Washington. 399 

Chief Justice Fuller and delivered his address from the east 
portico. The parade was estimated to be four miles in length. 
The day was closed with a ball at the Pension building and fire- 
works at the Monument lot. 

A number of circumstances combined to produce a dearth 
of gaiety in the White House during President McKinley's ad- 
ministration. Mrs. McKinley was a sufferer from a nervous 
trouble, and the President, a man of unusually serious bearing, 
was weighted with the Cuban difficulty and the threats of and 
later the actual occurence of the war with Spain. He was, more- 
over, the object of probably the most vitiolic newspaper attacks 
to which any President, in recent times at least, has been subject- 
ed. His devotion to his invalid wife was the most noteworthy 
feature of both the family and social life of the White House, 
which was at times, however, enlivened by the visits of Miss 
Mabel McKinley, the President's niece. 

During the Spanish-American War the Government main- 
tained a military rendevous at Camp Alger, a short distance 
south of Fort Myer. Large numbers of troops were concentrated 
at that point throughout the summer of 1898. The District of 
Columbia regiment was stationed at this camp until called to 
take part in the Santiago campaign. On July 3, 1898, it em- 
barked at Tampa, Florida, in a transport, and on the 11th of that 
month arrived in front of Santiago, in time to complete the in- 
vestment of that place, being present at the time of the sur- 
render of the Spanish Army. 

On September 9, 1898, the regiment returned from the 
Cuban campaign, detraining at 3d Street and Virginia Avenue, 
and marching up 3d Street and Pennsylvania Avenue past the 
White House where it was reviewed by President McKinley. 
The troops were sadly worn with sickness and fatigue and the 
marching column was followed by ambulances bearing those too 
enfeebled to walk. 

On the night of September 29, 1896 occurred the most de- 
structive storm that ever visited Washington and on the night 
of Sunday, February 12, and all day February 13, 1899, occurr- 
ed the snow storm for which that year is memorable. 



400 History of the City of Washington. 

On October 2, 1899, Admiral Dewey, on his return to the 
country after his victory at Manilla, was brought to Washington 
from New York, in company with a local reception committee 
of one hundred, on a specially tendered train of the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad Company. A short stop was made at Dean- 
wood, near the District line, where Commissioner John B. Wight 
tendered to the Admiral an engrossed parchment offering him 
the freedom of the National Capital. The Admiral was welcom- 
ed at the depot with an artillery salute of seventeen guns, and 
driven to the White House where he was received by President 
McKinley and his Cabinet. The entire party then proceeded to 
the stand where they reviewed the civic parade by the light of 
electric illuminations and red fire. 

The following day occurred the military parade which fol- 
lowed the Admiral, who in company with the President was 
driven to the Capitol for the ceremony of the presentation of the 
sword voted to the Admiral by Congress. The front steps of the 
east portico were occupied by the sailors and marines of the 
Olympia wearing the medals voted by Congress for participation 
in the battle of Manilla Bay. After an address by Secretary of 
the Navy Long, President McKinley tendered the sword to Ad- 
miral Dewey with a few appropriate words, the ceremony was 
closed with a benediction by Cardinal Gibbons, followed by a 
review of the procession at the stand by the President, Admiral 
Dewey and General Miles. A state dinner at the Executive 
Mansion, and elaborate fireworks with a brilliant search-light 
display closed the celebration. 

On December 12, 1900, the date having been designated by 
President McKinley, was held the celebration of the one hundreth 
anniversary of the removal of the seat of Government to Wash- 
ington. The ceremonies consisted in a reception by the Presi- 
dent at the White House to the Governors of the States and 
Territories, with addresses by Colonel Theodore A Bingham on 
the history of the Executive Mansion, Commissioner MacFar- 
land, and Governors Shaw of Iowa and Wolcott of Massachusetts. 
At 1 :30 a civic and military parade took place, ending with a 
review at the Capitol, after which joint exercises were held in 
the hall of the House of Representatives, participated in by the 



History of the City of Washington. 401 

members of both houses of Congress, the members of the Supreme 
Court, the Diplomatic Corps, the Governors of the States and 
Territories, Lieut. General Miles and Admiral Dewey, and num- 
erous other officials. Addresses were delivered by Representa- 
tives James D. Richardson and Sereno E. Payne and Senators 
Louis E. McComas and John W. Daniel. In the evening a re- 
ception was held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in honor of the 
Governors of the States and Territories. 

For the first time in a quarter of a century a President elect 
on March 4, 1901, rode to the Capitol as his own successor. On 
that day Mr. McKinley, accompanied by Senator Hanna and 
Representatives Cannon and McRae, and escorted a second time 
by Troop A of Cleveland, drove through a disagreeable rain to 
receive the oath on the east portico from Chief Justice Fuller, 
the rain ceasing during this ceremony but starting again before 
the conclusion of the President's address. Vice-president Roose- 
velt was sworn in by Senator Frye, President pro tempore of 
the Senate. The downpour was not sufficiently severe to cause 
material injury to the inaugural parade in which it was esti- 
mated thirty thousand persons took part. 

On the evening of September 6, 1901, President McKinley, 
while holding a reception in the Temple of Music at the Buffalo 
Pan-American Exposition, was shot through the stomach by Leon 
F. Czolgosz, a Polish anarchist. He was subjected to a surgical 
operation soon after, but died in the early hours of the morn- 
ing of September 14, at the home of John Q>. Milburn 
the President of the Exposition. 

The dead President's body arrived at Washington on the 
evening of the 16th. The following day, escorted by a proces- 
sion one and a half miles long, it was taken from the White House 
to the Capitol, where it lay in state the remainder of the day, 
and was viewed, it is estimated, by eighteen thousand persons. 

Owing to a recently enacted statute prohibiting the drap- 
ing of public buildings, no black draping appeared on the 
Capitol or White House. That evening the body started on the 
trip to Canton, Ohio for interment. 

Mr. Roosevelt was sworn in as President by Judge Hazel of 
Columbus on September 16, at the home of Andrew Wilcox in 



402 History of the City of Washington 

Columbus, Ohio in the presence of the members of the Cabinet. 

The social life of President and Mrs. Roosevelt was char- 
acterized by the same intense activity which rendered the ad- 
ministration notable. Mrs. Roosevelt was a woman of remark- 
able energy and administrative capacity, to which were added 
social qualities of the highest order. The young ladies of the 
family, Miss Alice and Miss Ethel Roosevelt furnished a motif 
for many dances, teas, garden parties and similar affairs for their 
friends of the younger set, to which were added an exceptional 
number of dinners, at homes, receptions and luncheons, in addi- 
tion to the regular public functions. In all, the unprecedented 
number of one hundred and eighty private White House enter- 
tainments were held during the slightly more than seven years 
of Mr. Roosevelt's period of office. 

Prince Henry of Prussia, the brother of Emperor William, 
came to America in February, 1902, to take part in the launch- 
ing of the Emperor's yacht Meteor. He came to Washington 
for a brief visit on the 24th of that month, calling upon President 
Roosevelt at the White House and shortly after receiving a re- 
turn of the call from the President at the German Embassy. 
He also visited Mount Vernon during his visit. On May 24, of 
the same year, the representatives of the Rochambeau and La- 
fayette families, together with representatives of the French 
Army and Navy, were officially entertained at Washington on 
the occasion of the unveiling of the Rochambeau statue in La- 
fayette Square. In August, 1902, President Roosevelt received 
an official visit from the Crown Prince of Siam ; on May 28, 1904, 
he was visited by a representative of the reigning house of 
China ; and on November 14, 1904, he entertained Prince Sada- 
nura Fushimi, a relative of the Mikado of Japan, then on his 
way to the St. Louis Exposition. 

President Roosevelt's proverbial good luck was in evidence 
on March 4, 1905, when a clear, beautiful day aided the efforts 
of those who had arranged one of the most impressive of all the 
Presidential inaugurals. Accompanied by Senators Spooner and 
Lodge and Representatives Dalzell, and escorted by three troops 
of Squadron A of New York, the President was driven in the 
midst of a hollow square of "Rough Riders" from his old Regi- 



History of the City of Washington 403 

ment, to the Capitol where, after Vice-president Fairbanks had 
received the oath from Senator Frye, Mr. Roosevelt delivered 
his address, and was sworn in by Chief Justice Fuller. Thirty 
thousand troops marched up Pennsylvania Avenue in the inau- 
gural parade. The celebration closed with a ball at the Pension 
Office building and a display of fireworks at the Monument lot. 

On February 7, 1906, Alice Roosevelt, the oldest daughter 
of the President, was married in the East Room of the White 
House to Representative Nicholas Longworth, of Ohio. Two 
years later Miss Ethel Roosevelt was formally introduced to 
society in the White House at an elaborate function given by 
her mother. 

On the misty evening of December 30, 1906, a train of empty 
freight cars running rapidly toward Washington on the Metro- 
politan Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad ran into the 
rear end of a crowded passenger train just starting from the 
station at Terra Cotta, in the District, killing forty-three persons 
and injuring more or less seriously about fifty others, many of 
the killed and injured being Washingtonians. 

The inauguration of President Taft on March 4, 1909, took 
place immediately following one of the worst snow storms in the 
history of the Atlantic States. Trains were tied up, wires were 
down, and the suffering, which was general throughout the afflict- 
ed section, worked great hardship upon those who had started 
to see the inauguration, many of whom were prevented from 
reaching the city. 

While the gale was still raging on the morning of the inau- 
gural day a wide space in the middle of the Avenue was cleared 
of the snow which had fallen by the municipal street cleaning 
service ; and Mr. Taft rode to the Capitol accompanied by 
President Rooseyelt, and Senators Lodge and Knox and escorted 
by Troop A' of Cleveland. 

Mr. Taft was desirous of taking the oath on the east portico, 
but this was regarded by Congress as imposing too much hard- 
ship and danger upon its more elderly members, and a resolution 
was hastily passed providing for the holding of the ceremony in 
the Senate Chamber. Vice-president Sherman was sworn in by 
his predecessor, Mr. Fairbanks, and President Taft by Chief 



404 History of the City of Washington 

Justice Fuller. Under the circumstances, the parade suffered 
noticeably. Notwithstanding the severity of the weather a 
brilliant ball was held in the Pension building and some fire- 
works, though none of the set pieces which had been designed, 
were displayed on the Monument lot. 

Under Mrs. Taft the public functions of the Executive 
Mansion were held with the usual frequency and eclat. Mrs. Taft 
proved herself, also, a most agreeable hostess in the affairs of a 
private nature which she gave to the more intimate circle of her 
friends. At one of her lawn parties she introduced the innovation 
of having the grounds of the White House patroled by a detach- 
ment of United States soldiers, a feature which, owing to public 
disfavor, was not continued. 

On January 25, 1912, the Duke of Connaught, brother of 
King Edward VII of England and uncle of King George V, paid 
a brief visit to the Capitol, taking tea at the White House with 
President and Mrs. Taft, and receiving a return call from the 
President at the British Embassy. 

Propitious weather favored the inauguration of President 
Wilson on March 4, 1913. On the afternoon of the preceding 
day five thousand women, with several hundred men, marched 
up Pennsylvania Avenue to call the attention of the country to 
the cause of Woman Suffrage, concluding the ceremonies with a 
series of tableaux on the south portico of the Treasury building. 

On the day of the inauguration three thousand students of 
Princton University and the University of Virginia lined the way 
for Mr. Wilson from the Shoreham Hotel to the White House. 
Mr. Wilson was driven to the Capitol in company with Presi- 
dent Taft and Senators Crane and Bacon, and escorted by the 
Essex Troop of New Jersey; Vice-president Marshall being es- 
corted by the Black Horse Troop of Culver Military Academy. 
After Vice-president Marshall had been sworn in by Senator 
Gallinger, Mr. Wilson received the oath from Chief Justice White 
and delivered his address from the east portico. Forty thousand 
persons took part in the military and civic parade which follow- 
ed. In deference to Mr. Wilson's wishes the customary ball was 
omitted. It was estimated that 250,000 people came to Washing- 
ton for this inauguration. 



History of the City of WasMngion 405 

Two White House Weddings have taken place during the 
term of President Wilson. On November 25, 1913, the Presi- 
dent 's second daughter, Jessie Woodrow, was married to Mr. 
Francis B. Sayre in the East Room; and on May 7, 1914, the 
President's youngest daughter, Eleanor Randolph, was married 
in the Blue Room to Mr. William Gibbs McAdoo, the Secretary 
of the Treasury in President Wilson 's Cabinet. 

The census of 1880 showed Washington with a population 
of 147,293, a gain of 38,000 in the preceding decade ; Georgetown 
with 12,578, a gain of a little over one thousand ; and the County 
with 17,753. The total population of the District was 177,624, 
of whom 59,402 were colored. In 1890 the population of Wash- 
ington was 188,932 ; that of Georgetown was 14,046 ; and that 
of the County, 27,414. Of the total of 230,392, about one-third, 
or 75,572 were colored. 

By Act of February 11, 1895, Congress decreed that from 
that date the part of the District of Columbia then constituting 
the city of Georgetown, which by the Acts creating the Terri- 
torial and the temporary commission governments had been 
given recognition under that name, should no longer be known 
by the name of the city of Georgetown, but should be known 
as and constitute a part of the city of Washington, the Federal 
Capitol. By the census of 1900 the combined population of the 
two former cities was 247,294, and that of the County 45,973. 
The total population of the District was 278,718, of which num- 
ber 87,186 were colored. In 1900 the total population of the 
District was 331,069 of whom 94,941 were colored. 

With the beginning of the last quarter of the 19th century 
the white public school system of Washington and Georgetown 
was divided into five districts, of which Georgetown constituted 
the fifth. Eleven school buildings of considerable size, and other 
smaller ones, were owned, but approximately one-third of the 
school accomodations consisted of rented quarters in churches, 
private residences, engine houses and public halls, in many cases, 
being one or two room frame or brick structures. The principal 
buildings were the Franklin, built in 1869; the Seaton, built in 
1871 ; the Jefferson, built in 1872; the Wallach, built in 1864 the 
Cranch, built in 1872; and the Curtis, built in 1875. In the 



406 History of the City of Washington 

latter year the old first district building at 14th and G Streets 
was sold and the proceeds used in acquiring another site. An 
Act of Congress of June 25, 1864, had made school attendance 
compulsory upon all children between the ages of six and seven- 
teen, but had been a dead letter from the date of its passage, as 
the voluntary school attendance exceeded the accommodations. 
In 1875 the enrollment in the white public schools was 11,241 and 
in the white private schools, 6,837, making a total white school 
population for Washington and Georgetown of 18,078. 

The public schools at this time were divided into nine grades, 
of which the first eight comprised the courses ordinarily pre- 
scribed for elementary schools, and the ninth the work usually 
assigned to high schools. The classes in the latter grade were re- 
tained in the grammar schools as there was then no high school. 
The normal schools had been established in 1873. 

The colored schools in 1875 had a total enrollment of 5,489, 
and consisted of ten buildings, one of which was used as a high 
school. 

The construction of school buildings, both white and color- 
ed, proceeded vigorously, each year witnessing more or less ex- 
tensive additions to the number. 

The most prolific years were 1883 when six new buildings 
were constructed; 1887 with seven; 1889 with fourteen; 1891 
with six; 1896 and 1897 with five each; 1898 with seven; and 
1904 with six. In other years the number built ranged from two 
to four. A total of 174 buildings for white and colored schools 
have been erected, all except one, since 1864. With the exception 
of the Franklin and Wallach schools little attention was paid to 
the architectural features of the school buildings, which were 
usually designed in the office of the Inspector of Buildings, un- 
til, as a result of the efforts of Commissioner Black in 1897, the 
present system of obtaining competitive designs from architects 
was inaugurated. 

The first white high school building was the Central, at 7th 
and Streets, which was constructed in 1883. In 1890 the 
Curtis building in Georgetown was dedicated to high school pur- 
poses as the Western, and in 1891 the Eastern High School was 
constructed at 7th and C Streets, southeast. The Business High 



History of the City of Washington 407 

School was organized in 1890 in the old Thompson building. The 
following two years it was located in the Franklin building and 
for three years occupied the old Minor building which had for- 
merly been used for the colored normal school. In 1896 it was 
established in the building owned by Thomas W. Smith on 1st 
Street between B and C Streets, northwest, which had for some 
years been occupied by the District Commissioners. 

The new Western High School at 35th and T Streets was 
built in 1898 and destroyed by fire on the night of April 24, 1914. 
The McKinley Manual Training or Technical High School at 7th 
and Rhode Island Avenue was built in 1902, and the present 
Business High School at 9th and Rhode Island Avenue in 1904. 
The purchase of the site for the new Central High School on 
Clifton Street between 11th and 13th Streets, was authorized by 
Congress on March 2, 1911, and its construction authorized in 
Act of March 4, 1913. 

The High School Cadets were organized with two com- 
panies in 1882. In 1884 a battalion of four companies was or- 
ganized ; in 1890 a company each from the Business and Eastern 
High Schools was added ; and in 1893 a company from the West- 
ern and an additional company from the Central High School 
were added. The organization first paraded as a full eight com- 
pany regiment at the second Cleveland inaugural on March 4, 
1893. Additional companies have brought the present strength of 
the regiment to eleven companies organized in three battalions. 
The first competitive drill was held in 1888, and in 1894 the cus- 
tom of holding the drill out of doors was inaugurated. 

The colored High School on M Street between 1st Street and 
New Jersey Avenue was erected in 1890. The purchase of the new 
site on 1st Street between N and O Streets, northwest, was au- 
thorized by Act of March 2, 1911. The first company of colored 
High School Cadets was organized in 1890. 

By Act of July 1, 1882, the membership of the Board of 
Trustees of Public Schools, which had been created in 1871, was 
reduced from nineteen to nine. On March 1, 1895, the number 
was increased to eleven in order to allow the Commissioners to 
appoint two women members. By Act of June 20, 1906, the con- 
trol of the public schools of the District was vested in a Board 



408 History of the City of Washington 

of Education to consist of nine members to be appointed by the 
Judges of the Supreme Court of the District. This Act required 
that three of the members of the Board should be women and that 
all should have been for five years preceding their appointment 
bona fide residents of the District of Columbia. 

Since the close of the Civil War the development among the 
colleges and Universities of the District has been such as to con- 
stitute a distinctive and highly important feature of the local 
history. 

In 1865 Columbian College was the recipient from Mr. W. 
W. Corcoran of a building for a medical school on the present 
site, and that department, which had been discontinued following 
the conversion of the old infirmary back of the City Hall into 
a military hospital, was reestablished. In the same year the old 
Trinity P. E. Church property on 5th Street between D and E 
Streets was purchased and occupied by the law department. By 
Act of Congress of March 3, 1873, the name "Columbian Col- 
lege" was changed to "Columbian University." 

A movement to furnish the colored youth of the country op- 
portunities for education comporting with the status in which 
they had been placed as a result of the Civil War resulted in the 
establishment of Howard University under a charter granted by 
Congress on March 2, 1867. The chief actors in this movement 
were a circle of prominent members of the Congregationalist de- 
nomination, notably General 0. O. Howard, for whom the insti- 
tution was named, and Mr. B. F. Morris of Cincinnati. The new- 
ly erected building at the head of 7th Street was occupied in 
November, 1868. The law department was opened on January 
1, 1869, and the medical department on October 6 of the same 
year. 

Georgetown University opened its law department in Octo- 
ber, 1870, occupying temporarily a number of locations until 
the erection of the present building on E Street beteween 5th 
and 6th Streets in 1891. The magnificent main building of the 
College, known as Healy Hall, was commenced in 1877 and com- 
pleted in 1879. In 1882 the medical department was permanent- 
ly housed in its newly erected building on H Street between 9th 
and 10th Streets. 



History of the City of Washington 409 

In 1882 Columbian University established its preparatory 
school at 14th and H Streets and the following year sold its 
property at 14th and Euclid Streets and erected its new college 
building at 15th and H Streets. The Corcoran Scientific School 
was established in 1884 and the dental department in 1887. 

The National University was incorporated in 1879 and at 
once commenced instruction with its law department. In 1884 it 
established medical and dental departments which after some 
years were discontinued. The Catholic University was incorpor- 
ated in 1887 and commenced instruction in Caldwell Hall in 1889 
Georgetown University established its hospital in 1898, its dental 
department in 1901 and its training school for nurses in 1903. 

In 1897 Columbian University discontinued its preparatory 
school and established its hospital in the building at 14th and 
II Streets which the preparatory school had occupied. In 1898 
it erected a handsome three story building in the rear of its main 
building at 15th and H Streets for its law department and its 
newly created School of Comparative Jurisprudence and Diplo- 
mac3 r . I n 1900 its new medical building was erected on the site 
of the old one and the main hospital building was erected in the 
space between the medical building and the old hospital. In 1904 
the name was changed to George Washington University. In 
3910 the policy which for some years had involved encroachments 
upon the principal of certain of the University's endowment 
funds resulted in a reorganization and a sale of the property 
at 15th and H Streets, the law department being housed in the 
Masonic Temple at 13th and H Streets and the college depart- 
ments in a building on I Street between 15th Street and Vermont 
Avenue. In 1912 the present quarters of the college department 
on G Street between 20th and 21st Streets were rented and the 
following year were purchased by the University. 

The Catholic University, following^ ts establishment in 1887, 
has grown rapidly. Caldwell Hall, the pioneer building has 
been followed in the order named by McMahon Hall, Albert 
(formerly Keane) Hall, and in 1912. by Gibbons Hall. 

The American University was incorporated under the laws 
of the District on June 3, 1891, under the auspices of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal Church. The site, embracing ninety-two acres at 



410 History of the City of Washington 

Nebraska Avenue and the Loughborough Road, was acquired at 
about this time, but the buildings were not completed until the 
present year. The dedication ceremonies, participated in by- 
President Wilson and Secretaries Bryan and Daniels were held 
on May 27, 1914. 

The last thirty -five years have seen many notable develop- 
ments in church lines, not only in the establishment of 
new churches, but in the erection of new, larger and more 
beautiful structures for the older congregations, and in several 
cases their removal to more appropriate locations. 

The year 1881 was signalized by the dedication of four 
prominent churches the Church of the Reformation (Luther- 
an), Tabernacle Congregationalist Church, St. Andrew's 
Church (Episcopal), and Plymouth and Lincoln Memorial Con- 
gregational Churches (Colored). 

The Church of Our Father (Universalist) was dedicated 
in October, 1883. The first steps looking to the formation of 
this congregation had been taken in 1867. Previous to the 
erection of the present building the congregation had wor- 
shipped in various halls. The Vermont Avenue Christian 
Church, in which President Garfield had worshipped, was after 
his death replaced by the present building, erected as a memo- 
rial to the Martyred President, which was dedicated in 1884. 
In that year also the new building of St. Patrick's Church was 
dedicated, and St. James' Episcopal Church was erected suf- 
ficiently for occupancy. The Church of Our Redeemer (Luth- 
eran) was dedicated in 1885; Grace M. E. Church (South) was 
organized in 1886 and the building completed soon after; St. 
Paul's Catholic Church and Independent M. E. Church were 
dedicated in 1887, the Fifth Congregational Church organized 
with its place of worship in Milford Hall at 8th and I Streets, 
and the original Metropolitan Baptist Church was completed 
in 1888; and the new St. Mark's Episcopal Church was complet- 
ed in 1889. 

The present marble structure of St. Peter's Catholic 
Church and the new First Baptist Church were erected in 1890. 
Twelfth Street Methodist Church, St. Joseph's Catholic Church 
Maryland Avenue Baptist Church, the new building of St. 



History of the City of Washington 411 

Mary's Catholic Church, Keller Memorial Church (Lutheran), 
Grace Baptist Church, and the new First German Reformed 
Trinity Church were erected in 1891. The Church of the Cove- 
nant was first occupied in 1885, but not completed until 1892, 
and the Church of the United Brethren of Christ in the same 
year. St. Thomas Episcopal Church was organized in 1892 and 
its building erected soon after. 

In 1893 the congregation of Unity Presbyterian Church, 
which had occupied a brick chapel the site of the present 
buildings since 1884, erected their new structure under the 
name of Gunton Temple Memorial Church. In 1896 the 
Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian) which had 
been organized in 1846, and had occupied a number of loca- 
tions including a church building on north Capitol Street 
which was burned in 1889, erected its present Gothic structure 
on the .Avenue of the Presidents. The Church of the Sacred 
Heart was dedicated in 1900. St. Margaret's Episcopal Church 
was organized in 1897 and constructed soon after. 

In 1904 the new building of Foundry M. E. Church on the 
Avenue of the Presidents was dedicated, the old structure at 
14th and G Streets being replaced by the Colorado Building. 
Ingram Memorial Church was dedicated in 1910. The Chapel 
of the Nativity, the first portion of the Protestant Episcopal 
Catheral to be constructed, was dedicated in 1912, as was also 
the new building of the Metropolitan Baptist Church. In 
1913 St. Matthew's and St. Martin's Catholic Churches and 
the First Church of Christ, Scientist, were dedicated. The 
Central Presbyterian Church was dedicated in 1914. 

The local branch of the Young Men's Christian Association 
was organized in 1852 by William J. Rhees, Rev. Thomas Dun- 
can, and Rev. William C. Langdon. It was incorporated by 
a special Act of Congress in 1864. Various locations were oc- 
cupied from time to time until 1900, when the building of the 
Columbia Athletic Club on G Street between 17th and 18th 
Streets was purchased. This proving inadequate to the needs of 
the Association, the adjacent property was acquired and the 
new building erected in 1905 adjoining the old. The Association 



412 History of the City of Washington 

has established a branch for railroad men at the Union Station, 
and branches for soldiers at Fort Myer, Washington Barracks, 
and Marine Barracks. A branch for colored men is located at 
1816 12th Street, northwest. It has a total membership, in all 
branches of more than six thousand five hundred. 

The regulation of the practice of medicine appears to have 
remained chiefly with the Medical Society of the District of 
Columbia until 1874. By an Act of June 23 of that year Con- 
gress directed the Board of Health to make regulations look- 
ing to the recording of vital statistics. One of the regulations 
so established required all persons practicing medicine in the 
District to be registered with the Board of Health ; and the 
Commissioners by an order dated August 28, 1874, provided 
that physicians who should be entitled to registration should 
include such as had received licenses from some medical society or 
those holding diplomas from medical schools or institutions. 
No further regulation of practice was attempted until the enact- 
ment of the so-called Medical Practice Act of June 3, 1896, which 
was passed in recognition of a demand from physicians that some 
more stringent regulation than had formerly existed be estab- 
lished. This Act provided for the creation of three boards of 
medical examiners representing respectively the regular, the 
homeopathic and the eclectic schools of practice, which should 
examine applicants for licences to practice and report to the 
Board; of Medical Supervisors consisting of the presidents of the 
three boards of examiners. The Board of Dental Examiners 
had been created by Act of June 6, 1892. By Act of May 7, 
1906 a Board of Pharmaceutical Examiners was created and its 
president merged with the former Board of Medical Supervisors 
in a Board of Supervisors in Medicine and Pharmacy. An Act 
of April 29, 1902, created an Anatomical Board to regulate the 
distribution of bodies among the various medical schools of the 
District. 

Mention was made in a former chapter of the agitation re- 
sulting in the passage of the Act of March 2, 1893, relative to the 
establishment of a permanent system of highways in that por- 
tion of the District lying outside of the cities of Washington and 
Georgetown. This Act directed the Commissioners to prepare 



History of the City of Washington 413 

a plan for the extension of the highways over the territory men- 
tioned, subject to certain stipulations as to width of streets; the 
work to be done in sections as occasion should demand ; and that 
the maps of the sections as laid out should be subject to the ap- 
proval of a commission consisting of the Secretaries of War and 
Interior and the Chief of Engineers. The Commissioners were 
further given authority to lay out circles and reservations at the 
intersections of the principal avenues and streets, corresponding 
in number and dimensions with those existing at such inter- 
sections in the city as originally laid out. This monumental task 
was accomplished between the years 1893 and 1898 by Mr. 
William P. Richards of the District Engineering Department, 
who had immediate charge of the work. Mr. Richards was large 
ly aided by Captain, afterwards Commissioner, Lansing H. 
Beach, who as one of the assistants to the Engineer Commission- 
er during the greater part of this period gave the project his 
special attention. By a provision in the Act of March 2, 1893, 
as well as by subsequent provisions in Acts of June 30, 1898, 
and February 16, 1904, the Commissioners were empowered to 
name the streets, avenues, alleys, highways, and reservations so 
laid off. By an order of August 6, 1901, the Commissioners 
adopted an elaborate system to be followed in giving names 
throughout the entire highway extension system, and by an 
order dated October 15, 1904, and numerous orders subsequent 
thereto have given names to various streets and reservations 
under the system so adopted. 

The nomenclature of the streets of Georgetown was changed 
to make it conform as nearly as possible to that of the streets 
of Washington by an order of the Commissioners of October 4, 
1880. This was an arbitrary order and was without authority 
from Congress, which, however, by the Act of February 11, 1895, 
abolishing the separate designation of the city of Georgetown, 
directed the change in the nomenclature of the streets of George- 
town to be made. Nothing was done by the Commissioners in 
compliance with this requirement until eleven years after the 
passage of the Act, when, by an order dated November 24, 1909, 
they validated their former action. 



414 History of the City of Washington 

The first telephone service installed in the City was the Na- 
tional Telephone Exchange which was established by George C. 
Maynard and William H. Barnard in 1879, and which was suc- 
ceeded in December 1 of that year by the National Capital Tele- 
phone Company. The latter company was succeeded by the 
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, a New York cor- 
poration, in August, 1883. No specific authorization by Congress 
of any telephone company to do business or lay wires in the 
city appears ever to have been granted, the only legislation on 
the subject being in the form of direction to the Commissioners 
in various appropriation bills not to allow other than existing 
companies to lay wires in the streets and limiting the height of 
wires and length of conduits. 

In the fall of 1881 the first attempt at the introduction of 
electric lighting in the City of Washington took place in con- 
nection with the ceremonies attending the dedication of the 
statue to General Thomas in Thomas Circle. It was planned 
to string a temporary row of arc lamps over the middle of Penn- 
sylvania Avenue from the Peace Monument to the Treasury De- 
partment by means of guys stretched across the street, the cur- 
rent to be obtained from a dynamo connected with the engine of 
a saw mill on 13th street. This attempt was not a success but 
as an immediate consequence of the interest awakened by it, the 
ITeisler Electric Light Company was incorporated by Messrs. 
Stilson Hutchins, D. B. Ainger, Wm. Dixon, Moses Kelly and 
George A. Kelly. A small experimental plant was established 
in the Washington Post Building supplying current to a small 
number of lights in the neighborhood of Pennsylvania Avenue 
and 10th Street. On October 14, 1882, the United States Elec- 
tric Lighting Company was incorporated under the laws of West 
Virginia, with a capital of $300,000, and took over the property 
of the Heisler Company. This company vigorously extended its 
system throughout the city, its first large contract being with 
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. In 1884 it laid an under- 
ground conduit on Pennsylvania Avenue and other streets, be- 
ing one of the pioneers of underground conduit construction, 
in which its expensive system was regarded as a model. The 
company's plant was burned down on the night of July 16, 1885, 



History of the City of Washington 415 

but within two weeks the company was again in operation and the 
following September consolidated with the Brush Electric Light 
Company. The present building at 13£ and B Streets was com- 
pleted in 1887. 

On November 27, 1898, the city post office was established in 
the unfinished General Post Office building on Pennsylvania 
Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets, after more than a cen- 
tury of migration from one location to another. Mr. Madison 
Davis, in a paper read before the Columbia Historical Society 
in 1902, gives an interesting account of its various homes, from 
which the following information is gathered: from July 17 to 
December 31, 1795, the city post office was located at the home of 
Thomas Johnson, Jr., the first postmaster on the north side of F 
Street between 13th and 14th ; from January 1, to September 30, 
1796, at the home of Christ. Richmond, at the southeast corner 
of 13th and F Streets; from October 1, 1796 to January 29, 
1799, on 1st Street between East Capitol and A Streets, north- 
east ; from January 30, 1799, to June 19, 1800, on the north side 
of F Street between 13th and 14th, probably the same as its 
first location; from June 11, 1800 to June 30, 1801, at the north- 
west corner of 9th and E Streets; from July 1, 1801, to March 
31, 1802, on F between 14th and 15th Streets; from April 1, 
1802 to June 30, 1810, in the "Southwest Executive Building, 
then occupied by the State War and Navy Departments on 17th 
Street, southwest of the President's House; from July 1, 1810, 
to October 31, 1812, in a building somewhere on Pennsylvania 
Avenue west of the President's House; from November 1, 1812, 
to June 30, 1829, in Blodget's Hotel on E between 7th and 8th 
Streets; from July 1, 1829, to December 15, 1836, in an extension 
of the Blodget building on 7th and E Streets; from December 
16, 1836, the date of the destruction of the Blodget building by 
fire, to December 30, 1837, in Sceaver's house on the west side 
of 7th between D and E Streets; from December 31, 1837, to 
June 28, 1839, in the old Masonic Hall, which is still standing, 
at the southwest corner of 4£ and D Streets ; from June 29, 1839, 
to September 30, 1841, at the present site of the Raliegh Hotel, 
at Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Streets; from October 1, 1841, 
to September 22, 1843, in the large rooms under Carusi's saloon, 



416 History of the City of Washington 

which was then a place of entertainment for the fashionable 
people of the city, at 11th and C Streets; from September 23, 
1843 to July, 1857, in two brick buildings on the west side of 
7th street between E and F, just north of the south portion of the 
uncompleted General Post Office, now the Land Office building; 
from July, 1857, to November, 1879, in the 1st floor of the F 
Street front of the completed General Post Office building; 
from November, 1879, to May 31, 1892, in the former Seaton 
House on the south side of Louisiana Avenue between 6th and 
7th Streets; from June 1, 1892 to November 26, 1898, in the 
Union building on the north side of G Street between 6th and 
7th Streets. 

In July, 1908, the new Municipal Building on Pennsylvania 
Avenue between 13^ and 14th Streets, was occupied by the Dis- 
trict government. The first permanent headquarters of the Dis- 
trict government, following the abolishment of the Territorial 
government, were in the Morrison building on the west side of 
4-| Street just above Pennsylvania Avenue, which it occupied 
from July, 1874, to June 28, 1887. It then moved to the re- 
modeled lumber warehouse of Mr. T. W. Smith on 1st Street 
between B and C Streets, which it occupied until May, 1895. 
It then removed to 464 Louisiana Avenue, opposite the old City 
Hall, where it remained until it removed to the newly completed 
Municipal Building. 

Among the principal railroad developments of the last de- 
cade of the nineteenth century were the entrance into the city 
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company on April 1, 1891, 
and the consolidation of southern lines into the Southern Rail- 
way Company on July 1, 1894. The coming in of the new cen- 
tury has been rendered memorable by the construction of the 
Washington Passenger Terminals and the Union Station. 

The Union Station was the result of an insistent demand 
for the removal of grade crossings, and of the desirability of 
removing the railroad tracks and station of the Baltimore and 
Potomac Railroad Company from the Mall, as well as of the con- 
venience and artistic results to be gained from the establishment 
of a single station in which due regard should be had to esthetic 
considerations. 



History of the City of Washingt&n 417 

Agitation against grade crossings dates back practically to 
the coming into the city of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad 
in 1872. The first legislation on the subject consisted in two 
separate Acts of Congress, both dated February 12, 1901, deal- 
ing respectively with the Baltimore and Ohio and the Baltimore 
and Potomac Railroad Companies. 

With respect to the first named company, Congress by this 
legislation provided for a station near the site of the present 
Union Station with an overhead viaduct from the north. "With 
respect to the latter company it provided for a new station on 
the site of the old one on the Mall between 6th and 7th Streets, 
with an overhead viaduct across the Mall and on Maryland and 
Virginia Avenues, a new steel railroad bridge in place of the 
old Long Bridge, and a new steel highway bridge five hundred 
feet above the location of the old Long Bridge. 

The efforts of the Park Commission of 1901 looking to the 
removal of the railroad tracks and station from the Mall, the 
fact that Mr. Burnham of that Commission was the architect for 
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and to some extent, the 
formation of a community of interest in the ownership of the 
Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio Railroads, resulted in 
the passage by Congress of the Act of February 28, 1903, provid- 
ing for the erection of the Union Station on its present site at 
the intersection of Delaware and Massachusetts Avenues, at a 
cost of not less than four million dollars, with overhead viaducts 
from the north which should connect with the Maryland and 
Virginia Avenue tracks of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad 
by a tunnel under the Capitol grounds approximately on the 
line of 1st Street, east. The passenger traffic of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad was to come into this station over a line connecting 
at Magruder Station, Maryland, with its existing line. 

To compensate them for the rights and property surrender- 
ed and for the expense incident to th<> construction of the new 
terminals, Congress provided for the payment of one and a half 
million dollars each to the Baltimore and Ohio and Pennsylvania 
companies; the payment to the former to be borne in equal 
shares by the general Government and by tbe District of Colum- 



418 History of the City of Washington 

bia, and the payment to the latter to be borne entirely by the 
United States. 

The Acts of Congress above mentioned authorized the crea- 
tion of a terminal company for the purpose of constructing and 
operating the terminals and station, and accordingly The "Wash- 
ington Terminal Company was incorporated on December 6, 
1901, its stock being taken in equal shares by the Baltimore and 
Ohio and Pennsylvania companies. The Union Station was de- 
signed by Daniel H. Burnham and Company, of Chicago. The 
first train came into the new station on October 23, 1907. 

The tracks controlled by the terminal company extend from 
Florida Avenue to the south portal of the tunnel, and are used 
by the other roads entering the city under special trackage con- 
tracts. The terminal company handles only passenger traffic, 
each of the several railroad companies maintaining its own 
freight yards. 

Other less important developments in the way of rail com- 
munication with points outside of the city were the completion 
of the Washington and Chesapeake Beach Railway in 1892; 
the Washington, Alexandria and Mt. Vernon Electric now the 
Washington and Virginia, Railway in 1894; and the trackage 
arrangement of April 15, 1907, whereby the Washington, Balti- 
more an Annapolis Electric Railway Company enters the city 
over the tracks of the Washington Railway and Electric Com- 
pany. 

An event of importance to Georgetown was the establishment 
of direct steam railroad connection with the Baltimore and Ohio 
system. This was accomplished by the building of a line along 
the Georgetown water front under a charter to the Georgetown 
Barge, Dock, Elevator and Railway Company granted in 1888, 
the work being completed in 1890. The line for some distance 
up the river was constructed by the Washington and Western 
Maryland Railroad Company in 1909 ; and the line from the 
point where it crosses the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to a con- 
nection with the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio 
at Chevy Chase Station, was constructed by the Metropolitan 
Southern, a subsidiary company to the Baltimore and Ohio, in 
1910. 



History of the City of Washington 419 

The beginning of the last quarter of the nineteenth century 
found most of the water transportation business of Washington 
in the hands of four companies ; the Inland and Seaboard Coast- 
ing Company, the Clyde Line, the Washington Steamboat Com- 
pany, Ltd., and the Potomac Steamboat Company. 

The Inland and Seaboard Coasting Company continued for 
a number of years to operate the John Gibson and E. C. Knight 
on the New York run. The Knight was sunk in collision with a 
schooner off Hog Island in 1883, and the Gibson was sold when 
the line was abandoned in the following year. This company 
continued to operate the Lady of the Lake and Jane Mosely 
on the run to Norfolk until 1892, when the advent of the more 
modern steamers of the Norfolk and Washington Steamboat 
Company forced the older vessels off the route. The Inland and 
Seaboard Coasting Company built the John W. Thompson, 
named after its first President, about 1878, and placed her on the 
run to the lower river landings. After the breaking up of the 
company she was sold to E. S. Randall and her named changed to 
the Harry Randall. 

The Clyde Line started about 1876 with the small side-wheel 
steamer Sue on the run between Washington and Baltimore, 
with stops at the lower river landings. About 1887 the Sue Avas 
bought by Charles Lewis, who for some time had been operat- 
ing the John E. Taggart on the same run, and who in October, 
1894, sold out to the Weems Line, which at once replaced the 
Taggart with the iron screw steamer Potomac. This line in 
1900 replaced the Sue with the screw boat Northumberland ; in 
1902 it replaced the Potomac with the Calvert; and in 1905, it 
replaced the Calvert with the Anne Arundel. In 1907 the line 
was purchased by the Maryland, Delaware and Virginia Railway 
Company, which replaced the Anne Arundel with the Three 
Rivers. 

In 1878 the Express, which was operated by a rival of the 
Clyde Line was wrecked in a storm on Chesapeake Bay, near the 
mouth of the river, with the loss of several lives. 

The Washington Steamboat Company operated the Wake- 
field and T. V. Arrowsmith on the lower river route from 1878 
to 1895, when these boats were acquired by the Randall Line, 



420 History of the City of Washington 

which added to the fleet the former John W. Thompson, re-named 
the Harry Randall. In 1906 the line was bought by the Chesa- 
peake and Potomac Steamboat Company which has since con- 
tinued to operate it on the old run, to the lower river, and which 
changed the name of the Harry Randall to the Capital City. 

The Potomac Steamboat Company under the management 
of George E. Mattingly operated the George Leary and Excelsior 
between Washington and Norfolk from about 1876 until March, 
1891, when the line was taken over by the Norfolk and Wash- 
ington Steamboat Company. The Excelsior had been built to 
ferry cars to the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railway ter- 
minus at Aquia Creek; and after the construction of the track 
from that terminus to Quantico, on the Potomac, was used to 
carry passengers from Washington to Quantico until the con- 
struction of the railroad from that place to Alexandria in 1872 
completed the through rail connection between Washington and 
Richmond. She was exceptionally fast, with double boilers and 
a superstructure so high as to completely hide her walking beam. 

The Norfolk and Washington Steamboat Company com- 
menced operations in the Spring of 1891 with the palatial screw 
steamers Washington and Norfolk, to which in 1895 was added 
a larger boat, the Newport News, and in 1905 and 1912, respec- 
tively, the still larger vessels Southland and Northland. This 
line since its inauguration has been under the management of 
Mr. D. J. Callahan, with Mr. E. B. Bowling as General Agent. 

The steamer W. W. Corcoran commenced making trips to 
Mount Vernon about 1870, and continued to do so until re- 
placed by the Charles Macalester in 1890. She was burned at 
her deck in September, 1891. About 1876, and for some years 
after, the Arrow, a small fast steamer, also took excursions to 
Mount Vernon. The Mary Washington, a flat -bottomed steamer, 
equipped with a centerboard, was operated by E. S. Randall as 
an excursion boat to White House and Occoquon from about 1873 
to 1882. 

In the early eighties Mr. E. S. Randall commenced running 
the Pilot Boy on excursions to River View, later adding the Sam- 



History of the City of Washington 421 

uel J. Pentz and Harry Randall. During the late nineties the Ma. 
calester was aided on the Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall run 
by the River Queen, a fast ante-bellum boat, which had been 
used as a transport during the Civil War, and on which Presi- 
dent Lincoln made his visit to the Union Army in front of 
Petersburg in 1865. After being used on the Marshall Hall run 
for several years the River Queen was employed for a number 
of seasons in carrying colored excursions to Notley Hall and 
Glymont. Colonial Beach was established as a summer resort 
during the late eighties, since which time a number of steamers 
have been engaged in the extensive excursion traffic to that place ; 
among them the T. V. Arrowsmith, the Jane Mosely, the Harry 
Randall, and since 1906, the St. John's of the Chesapeake and 
Potomac Line. 

In connection with the history of the water front, it is of 
interest to mention that the first patrol boat was the small steam 
launch Joe Blackburn which was put in service in 1888. She 
was replaced by the Vigilant in 1897. 

The first fire boat was the Fire fighter which went into ser- 
vice October 31, 1905. The provision for her in the District Ap- 
propriation Act of 1905 was the result of the personal and 
practically unaided efforts of Mr. M. I. "Weller. 

The development and improvement of the horse car lines of 
the city until they were superseded by the cable and electric 
methods of propulsion, were in large measure the result of the 
competition of the chariot and herdic lines. 

The so-called chariots, were put in service on Pennsylvania 
Avenue by Mr. John B. Daish on March 5th, 1877, the day of 
President Hayes ' inauguration. Fifteen of these vehicles operated 
from 22d and Pennsylvania Avenue, via G Street, and the Ave- 
nue, to the foot of the Capitol. Subsequently twenty more were 
put on a route from 32d and M Streets in Georgetown to 4th and 
Pennsylvania Avenue, 'southeast. To moot this competition the 
Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company placed on Penn- 
sylvania Avenue from 17th Street to the Peace Monument a line 
of so-called bobtail one horse cars, with a three cent fare. The 
chariot line, which had a fare of five cents or six tickets for a 



422 History of the City of Washington 

quarter, accepted the tickets of the street railway companies and 
resold them at a discount in large quantities to the Government, 
and to the department stores and other purchasers, a course 
which was necessitated by the refusal of the street railway com- 
panies to redeem them. The chariots were continued for two and 
a half or three years, when, the adventure not proving prof- 
itable, the equipment was sold to the Washington and George- 
town Railroad Company. 

The Herdic Phaeton Company in December, 1879, com- 
menced carrying passengers in vehicles which took their names 
from their designer, Peter H. Herdic, of Wilmington, Delaware. 
This company commenced operations with a line of one-horse 
vehicles from 22d and C Streets, northwest, by way of G Street 
and Pennsylvania Avenue, north of the Capitol, to the Navy 
Yard gate. To meet this competition the Washington and 
Georgetown Railroad Company reestablished the line of one- 
horse cars with a three cent fare from 17th Street and Penn- 
sylvania Avenue to the Capitol, with which it had fought the 
chariot line, but so large a proportion of the traffic took advan- 
tage of these cars that the railroad company was compelled to 
discontinue them and meet the competition of the herdics with 
a more frequent two-horse car service. 

In 1833 the herdic company established a line from 11th 
and East Capitol Streets to 15th and T Streets, northwest, by 
w r ay of East Capitol Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th 
Street. This line passed through the Capitol grounds, and 
around the Capitol to the north, the vehicles passing under the 
steps of the Senate wing to discharge passengers, and in inclem- 
ent weather doing the same at the House wing. To meet the 
competition resulting from the 15th Street portion of this line, 
the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company in 1884 re- 
placed its old one-horse cars on the 14th Street line with two-horse 
cars, and instead of stopping them at 15th Street and New York 
Avenue, continued them on Pennsylvania Avenue, part going up 
to the east front of the Capitol from the south, and part replacing 
the branch line which had been maintained from the Peace Monu- 



History of the City of Washington 423 

ment to the old Baltimore and Ohio depot at New Jersey Avenue 
and C Street. Soon after this the herdic company moved its 
route from 15th to 16th Street. About this time it installed an 
entire new equipment of two-horse coaches. 

In 1886 the herdic company established a line on I and K 
Streets to 13th and north on 13th to T Street, northwest; and 
another line west on I Street to 17th, on 17th to N and on N to 
21st Street, northwest, using on the latter some of its old 
one-horse coaches. 

In 1887 the herdic company discontinued that part of its 
service from the Capitol to the Navy Yard gate, as well as its 
ends at 13th and T Streets, and 21st and N Streets, and placed 
a two-horse line from 22d and G Streets northwest, to the Toll 
Gate at 15th and H Streets, northeast, by way of G, 15th, F, 5th, 
and II Streets, running in competition with the Columbia Rail- 
way Company's one-horse car line. To meet this competition the 
Columbia Railway Company replaced its one-horse with two- 
horse cars and later inaugurated a system of reciprocal trans- 
fers with the Metropolitan Railroad Company at 14th and New 
York Avenue and at 9th and New York Avenue. 

The change from one-horse to two-horse cars on the Metro- 
politan line took place in 1886 and 1887, being effected first on 
the F Street line and afterwards on the 9th Street line. This 
change however, had no connection with the activities of the 
lierdic company. 

It was in large measure due to the efforts of the herdic 
company that Congress by Act of May 25, 1894, required all 
street car and herdic tickets to be printed in sheets of six each, 
and compelled the acceptance of each other's tickets by all lines, 
and provided for monthly settlements between the various com- 
panies; at the same time forbidding the reissue of the tickets 
after being once used. Previous to this the tickets were resold 
as long as they held together, and before they were retired be- 
came very soiled and filthy. The herdic company sold the street 
car tickets received by it in lots of one hundred for $3.90 and 
later issued books of its own tickets at the same rate. Many of 
irs passengers then adopted the custom of sitting by the ticket 



424 History of the City of Washington 

receptacles, there being then no conductors on the herdic line, and 
taking all fares, whether cash or tickets, of the street car lines, 
and depositing herdic company tickets in the receptacles. This 
course soon threatened to prove disastrous to the herdic company 
which then ooTamed the passage of the law above mentioned in 
order to compel the railway companies to accept its tickets. 

The herdic company continued to run its vehicles until the 
death of Commodore Potts of Philadelphia, the principal stock- 
holder, in 1896, when it ceased operations for some months. 
Through the efforts of Mr. Edgar A. Nelson, who had been super- 
intendent of stables practically since the inauguration of the 
company, and who secured an option on part of the equipment, 
the concern was reorganized as the Metropolitan Coach Com- 
pany with Mr. S. Dana Lincoln as its President, and on May 1, 
1897, commenced operating a line from 16th and T Streets to 22d 
and G Streets, under a reciprocal transfer arrangement with the 
Metropolitan Railroad Company at 15th and H Streets. In 1909 
it replaced its horse-drawn coaches with gasoline motor vehicles, 
experimenting with four different types, and re-equipping its 
entire line in February, 1913. In May, 1914, it extended its 
line, which then operated from 16th and U Streets to 15th Street 
and New York Avenue, on Pennsylvania Avenue to 9th Street, 
west. 

After the construction of the last of the horse car lines in 
the early seventies, no important extensions were made in the 
street ear systems of the city until the late eighties, when the 
need for some more rapid method of travel, together with the 
coming into use in other cities of the cable and various electric 
systems, resulted not only in the speedy abandonment of horses 
as a means of propulsion on the existing lines, but in the con- 
struction of numerous new lines both in the city and in its sub- 
urbs. 

Several interesting experiments were made at this time with 
a view to discovering some practicable substitute for horses. 
One which was tried on a short stretch of track on 7th Street 
north of Florida Avenue in about 1890, consisted of two parallel 
tubes six or eight inches in diameter installed in an under- 



History of the City of Washington 425 

ground conduit and caused to revolve by compressed air engines 
stationed about five hundred feet apart, which imparted motion 
to the car by means of staggered wooden wheels which pressed 
against them. On the first attempt to operate this system the 
pipes supplying the air to the engines froze and the attempt was 
abandoned. Another system tried out without success by the Ana- 
costia line on a stretch of track three blocks long consisted of 
magnets set at regular distances along the track, and supplied 
with current by a wire, which were expected to attract and re- 
pel the car as it passed over them. The Metropolitan line tried 
storage battery cars on its F Street line for a year about 1890 in 
conjunction with its horse cars, but with little successs. 

The Eckington and Soldiers' Home Railway Company and 
the Rock Creek Railway Company were both chartered in 1888 
and put in operation about 1891. The former started at 7th 
Street and New York Avenue, running east on the latter to 3d 
Street and thence northward to Brookland. As originally con- 
structed it used the overhead trolley and was the first road in 
the city to be equipped with electric motive power. Shortly 
afterwards this line constructed a branch connecting with its 
main line at New York Avenue and 5th Street, and running 
south on 5th Street, Louisiana Avenue and 6th Street to Penn- 
sylvania Avenue. This line was operated for a short while with 
storage battery cars, which however, proved so heavy and ex- 
pensive that the batteries were removed and horses substituted. 

The Rock Creek Railway Company started with an overhead 
trolley equipment at 18th and U Streets and ran to the District 
line by way of 18th Street, the Rock Creek bridge, and Connecti- 
cut Avenue, extended. From 18th and U it ran east on TT Street, 
to 9th Street with an underground trolley known as the Love 
system, which employed a wheel for purpose of contact instead 
of the sliding shoe which later came and still remains in general 
use throughout the city. The cars were equipped for both over- 
head and underground connection, the change from one to the 
other being made at the junction of the two systems at 18th and 
U Streets. 

Tn the District Appropriation Act of 1890 Congress author- 
ized the street railway companies then employing horses to 



426 History of the City of Washington 

change their motive power to electricity, either by storage or 
underground wire, or to cable. The Act required that in making 
such change the company should replace the old projecting 
rails with flat, grooved rails. 

Under authority of this Act the Washington and George- 
town changed the motive power on all its lines to cable, the 7th 
Street line going into operation under the new power on April 
12, 1890, and the 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue lines on 
August 6, 1892. The Metropolitan Railroad Company was requir- 
ed by Act of August 2, 1894, to change its motive power to an 
underground electric system and within the two years fixed by 
that Act had installed its present shoe contact underground sys- 
tem under patents owned by the General Electric Company. This 
system had been inaugurated in Buda Pesth, Hungary. 

On September 21, 1895, the Rock Creek Railway Company 
purchased the Washington and Georgetown Railroad Company, 
and under authority of Act of Congress of March 1 of that year 
changed its name to The Capital Traction Company. On the 
night of September 29, 1897, the power house which operated 
the 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue cables of this company, 
and which stood on the present site of the Municipal building, 
burned down, thus throwing the Pennsylvania Avenue and 14th 
Street cables out of service. It was determined to substitute 
the underground electric system which had been adopted by the 
Metropolitan line and the work was promptly started on all the 
Capital Traction Company's lines, horses being used on Penn- 
sylvania Avenue and 14th Street during the installation of the 
new system. The old cable conduits were used and operation 
was at no time suspended. The 14th Street division went into 
operation under electric power on February 27, 1898 ; the Penn- 
sylvania Avenue division on April 20, 1898 ; and the 7th Street 
division on May 26, 1898. In the Spring of 1899 the company 
changed the Love system on its U Street line to the shoe contact 
system, and extended the latter to its present terminus at Rock 
Greek Bridge. 

The Columbia line changed from horses to cable on March 
28, 1895, and from cable to underground electric on July 22, 
1899. The Anacostia and Potomac River line, which had been 



History of the City of Washington 427 

extended from F Street north to Florida Avenue on 11th Street, 
changed from horses to underground electric in April, 1900. 

During the period just discussed a number of electric lines 
came into existence, most of them of a suburban or interurban 
character, which outside the city employed the overhead trolley. 
Most, if not all, of them are mentioned in the following account 
of the formation of the Washington Railway and Electric Com- 
pany. 

In 1897 certain northern financial interests entered upon a 
project to consolidate the electric power and railway systems of 
the District of Columbia. They acquired the Potomac Light 
and Power Company, changing its name to Potomac Electric 
Power Company, and the United States Electric Lighting Com- 
pany, but were deterred for the time from attempting to acquire 
any street railway lines by the policy which Congress at about 
that time indicated of refusing to permit overhead trolleys in 
the city. In 1899, however, the movement was revived by the or- 
ganization of the Washington Traction and Electric Company, 
the purpose of which was to acquire a controlling interest in the 
stocks of the various lines of the District, and which shortly 
after succeeded in obtaining control of the following lines : 

The Anacostia & Potomac River Railroad Company, which 
had previously absorbed the Belt Railway Company; formerly 
the Capital, North Street and South Washington Railway 
Company; the Brightwood Railway Company; the Capital Rail- 
way Company; the City & Suburban Railway of Washington, 
a consolidation of the Eckington & Soldiers' Home Railway Com- 
pany, Maryland & Washington Railway Company, and the Co- 
lumbia & Maryland Railway Company of Maryland ; the Colum- 
bia Railway Company; the Georgetown and Tennallytown Rail- 
way Company; the Metropolitan Railroad Company, embracing 
the Connecticut Avenue & Park Railway Company, Union Rail- 
road Company, and the Boundary & Silver Springs Railway 
Company ; the Washington & Glen Echo Railroad Company ; the 
Washington & Great Falls Electric Railway Company, which 
had previously acquired the West Washington & Great Falls 
Electric Railway Company of Mon1 gomery County; the Wash- 



428 History of the City of Washington 

ington & Rockville Railway Company; and the Washington, 
Woodside & Forest Glen Railway & Power Company. 

The Washington Traction and Electric Company was a 
holding, rather than an operating company, but it was hoped, 
by the resulting co-operation among the companies under its 
control, to so reduce operating expenses and increase traffic as 
to quickly put the concern on a profitable basis. These expecta- 
tions, however, were not met, the dividends on the stock of the 
profitable companies being insufficient to pay the interest on 
the bonds covering the entire system, of which some of the lines 
were in a very poor financial condition. At the end of two 
years the Washington Traction and Electric Company defaulted 
the interest on its bonds and went into the hands of a receiver. 

Notwithstanding the failure of this effort at consolidation, 
the benefits to the public which had resulted from the standardi- 
zation of the various lines, the interchanging of transfers and the 
improved facilities for bringing suburban patrons directly into 
the city prevailed upon Congress to consent to a second effort 
to bring about the desired consolidation, with the result that by 
an Act approved June 5, 1900, it authorized the Washington 
and Great Falls Electric Railway Company to acquire the stock 
of the various roads which had been under the control of the 
Washington Traction and Electric Company. This stock was 
acquired on February 4, 1902, by the Washington and Great 
Falls Electric Railway Company, which under authority of the 
above Act, changed its name to the Washington Railway and 
Electric Company. An important feature of the Act authoriz- 
ing this consolidation was a clause giving the various companies 
the right to make contracts for the use of each other's tracks, 
under which the bringing of suburban and interurban traffic 
into the heart of the city has been greatly facilitated. 

An attempt during the year 1912 to bring about a still more 
extensive consolidation of power and street railway companies 
in the District resulted in a recommendation by the District 
Commissioners on December 5, of that year in response to which 
Congress in the District Appropriation Act of March 4, 1913, 
included a provision known as the "Anti-merger Law" which 
prohibits any public utility corporation doing business in the Dis. 



History of the City of Washington 429 

trict from transferring its stock to another company without 
specific authority from Congress to do so. Another clause of the 
same Act created the Public Utilities Commission consisting of 
the three District Commissioners with power to supervise and 
regulate every street railroad or other common carrier, gas com- 
pany, electrical company, water power company, telegraph or 
telephone company, and pipe line company operating in the Dis- 
trict. This legislation was drafted by Corporation Counsel Ed- 
ward H. Thomas in collaboration with Commissioner William V. 
Judson, who zealously urged its introduction, and Senator Jacob 
H. Gallinger, who as Chairman of the Senate Committee on the 
District, earnestly furthered its enactment. 

On March 30, 1914, Representative Robert Grosser intro- 
duced in Congress a bill directing the District Commissioners 
within ninety days after its passage to institute proceedings with 
the Public Utilities Commission for the condemnation of all the 
street railway lines doing business wholly or in part within the 
District of Columbia, the District to issue its thirty year 3.65% 
bonds to raise funds for paying the condemnation awards. The 
bill further authorized the Commissioners to purchase such por- 
tions of the street railways mentioned as extend outside the Dis- 
trict. The United States was not to be liable for either the 
principal or interest on the bonds, nor was any payment made or 
debt incurred by the District on account of such condemnation 
to be a basis of contribution by the United States toward the 
maintenance of the District Government. The passage of this 
bill has been recommended by District Commissioners Newman, 
Siddons and Harding. 

The sightseeing traffic of the city originated in the latter 
part of 1902 when the American Sightseeing Car and Coach 
Company commenced operating sightseeing street cars on the 
tracts of the Washington Railway and Electric Company from 
6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. In 1904 large sightseeing 
automobiles came to the city, since which time a number 
of companies have gone into the business of enabling visitors to 
the National Capital to see its numerous points of interest with 
the least possible waste of time. 



430 History of the City of Washington 

The so-called taxicabs came to the city in 1908. On March 
17 of that year the Commissioners passed an order setting aside 
a number of stands exclusively for the use of those vehicles. 

While a number of causes have contributed to retard the 
development of the District of Columbia as an industrial center, 
nevertheless the increase in the number of industrial establish- 
ments in recent years has been of a character not to be ignored. 
Without going into great detail, it may be said that there are at 
present upwards of five hundred industries located in the Dis- 
trict, among which are in the neighborhood of 150 printing and 
publishing concerns; over seventy bakeries, five malt liquor fac- 
tories, about twenty-five foundries and machine shops, ten lum- 
ber factories, fifteen stone works, and seven flour and grist mills. 

The new century has witnessed notable developments in 
both the retail and wholesale commerce of Washington. Through 
a spirit of co-operative enterprize among the merchants of the 
city, not only has the widespread custom which once prevailed 
among many local residents of doing their shopping in Balti- 
more, Philadelphia and New York been checked, but Washing- 
ton has in turn become the shopping center for a territory ex- 
tending forty miles to the east and north and for several hun- 
dred miles to the west and south. The city's retail establish- 
ments today number some twelve department stores ; eighty dry 
goods stores and more than fifty hardware stores. 

The extension of Washington 's wholesale trade has kept pace 
with that of its retail trade, particularly in supplying the needs 
of an extensive territory to the south and west, with the result 
that new establishments have sprung up and old ones have been 
compelled to increase their facilities. The city has now eight 
large wholesale grocery houses, fourteen wholesale lumber mer- 
chants, thirty- three electrical machinery and supply firms, four 
wholesale paper firms, two wholesale drug firms, and sixty-five 
commission merchants. 

The extent of the growth of the District of Columbia as a 
business center, generally, in recent years may be gathered from 
the fact that the bank clearings increased from $129,000,000 in 
1900 to $392,000,000 in 1912. 



History of the City of Washington 431 

For many years during the latter part of the nineteenth 
century, probably dating back at least to the close of the Civil 
War, an important feature of the commercial life of the District 
consisted in the bringing of ice from the Kenebec Kiver to 
Georgetown in coasting vessels which carried back to New Eng- 
land ports cargoes of Cumberland coal. The manufacture of 
artificial ice has within the past decade resulted in the entire 
abandonment of this traffic. 

The civic, commercial and industrial development of Wash- 
ington in recent years owes much to the many citizens, mer- 
chants and other like associations organized for presenting the 
needs of various localities to Congress and to the Boards of Com- 
missioners. Preeminent in this direction, however, has been 
the organization commonly known as The Washington Board 
of Trade which was incorporated on December 11 , 1889, as ' ' The 
Board of Trade for the District of Columbia" by twenty-seven 
prominent citizens of Washington, and was largely due to the 
complaint by members of Congress that there was no represen- 
tative body which could present impartially to that body, the 
needs of the District as a whole. The principal function, there- 
fore, of the Board of Trade has been the advancement of every 
branch of civic betterment largely through the comprehensive 
and vigorous presentation to Congress of matters which concern- 
ed the welfare of the National Capital at large. 

The Washington Chamber of Commerce was formed by the 
merger in 1907 of the Jobbers' and Shippers' and Business 
Men's Associations. Its purpose has been the exploitation of 
Washington's commercial advantages, in addition to which it 
has made a particular effort to attract conventions to the Na- 
tion's Capital. In 1909 and 1910 it raised a fund of $25,000 for 
this purpose ; and its efforts have within the past four years re- 
sulted in bringing thousands of visitors and millions of dollars 
to the city. 

The debt of the District of Columbia on May 31, 1871, when 
the Territorial government went out of office, was $3,256,382.48 
of which $900,403.80 was floating, and $2,355,978.68 bonded in- 
debtedness. Of the total, the city of Washington owed $2,966,- 



432 History of the City of Washington 

693.27, the city of Georgetown $261,463.37, and the Levy Court 
$28, 825.84. 

To offset this debt the city of Washington held a credit of 
$60,000, with accumulated interest, on account of bonds of the 
Alexandria and Washington Railroad Company to that amount 
which it had been compelled to pay on account of its guarantee 
of an issue of $150,000 on February 8, 1855. About $60,000 of 
this debt was afterwards collected by the city in a suit against 
the railroad company. In addition Washington held $50,000, 
and Georgetown $25,000, of the bonds of the Chesapeake and 
Ohio Canal Company which those cities had subscribed in April, 
1847, to assist the company to complete the canal to Cumberland. 
These bonds, with accrued interest and two certificates of in- 
debtedness amounting to $9,000, with interest from 1867, are 
still due. 

On July 1, 1878, when the permanent Commission govern- 
ment went into effect the debt of the District was $22,106,650, 
which was shortly thereafter increased by the issue of $1,254,050 
in 3.65% bonds on account of claims arising from the operations 
of the Board of Public Works. On July 1, 1914, this debt had 
been reduced to $6,939,150. 



CHAPTER XII 



Public Buildings and Grounds 

The story of the erection of the north wing of the original 
Capitol Building by the original Commissioners provided for 
by the Act of Congress of July 16, 1790, establishing the per- 
manent seat of government at Washington, has been treated in 
the chapters bearing upon the establishment of the city by 
those Commissioners. 

In 1803 President Jefferson placed the construction of the 
south wing in charge of Benjamin Henry Latrobe, a young 
Englishman who had met President Washington shortly after 
his arrival in this country in 1796, and who had attained some 
success in Philadelphia as an architect and engineer. The south 
wing was finished under the superintendence of Mr. Latrobe in 
1811, and the two wings were connected by a wooden gallery or 
bridge occupying the place of the present rotunda. The struc- 
ture had at that time the appearance of two separate buildings, 
and was in this condition when the interiors of both buildings 
were destroyed by the British in 1814. 

The reconstruction of the building was in 1815 placed in 
charge of Mr. Latrobe, who was in 1817 succeeded by Mr. 
Charles Bulfinch, a native of Massachusetts, who restored the 
north and south wings, reconstructing the Senate and House of 
Representatives chambers — now the Supreme Court and Statu- 
ary Hall respectively — and the west projection which enclosed 
the original quarters of the Congressional Library. Mr. Bulfinch 
also completed the rotunda with a low wooden dome. In 1827 
the building as thus reconstructed was declared complete. The 
entire cost of the building up to this time, including both the 
original construction and the reconstruction, was $2,433,814. 



434 History of the City of Washington 

In 1850 Congress determined to enlarge the Capitol. Much 
discussion resulted as to the method by which this was to be 
done. To the influence of President Fillmore is largely due the 
adoption of plans contemplating extensions in the form of wings 
in conformity with the general architectural character of the 
original portion of the building as designed by Dr. Thornton. 
The wings and dome were the design of George U. "Walter, of 
Philadelphia, who had designed the Girard College in that city, 
and under whose designs the Patent Office and Treasury De- 
partment buildings had been completed. The cornerstone of the 
south wing was laid on July 4, 1851, by President Fillmore, 
assisted by the Grand Lodge of Masons of the District of Colum- 
bia, the Grand Master wearing the regalia which President 
Washington had worn as Grand Master pro tern of Alexandria 
Lodge when he laid the cornerstone of the original building in 
1793. The orator of the occasion was Daniel Webster. 

The Statue of Liberty crowning the dome was modeled by 
Thomas Crawford, in Rome, Italy, and cast by Clark Mills in his 
foundry, near Brookland, D. C. 

The exterior of the original Capitol Building is constructed 
of sandstone brought from Aquia Creek, Va. This was so badly 
disfigured by smoke at the time of the destruction of the build- 
ing by the British in 1814 that it was necessary to obliterate the 
marks of the smoke by painting, which practice it has been 
necessary to continue ever since. The walls of the north and 
south wings were constructed of Massachusetts marble, and the 
monolithic columns are of marble from Cockeysville, Maryland. 
The result has been that the exterior of the building as a whole 
is not of uniform appearance. 

The new Hall of the House of Representatives was first 
occupied on December 2, 1857, and the new Hall of the Senate 
on January 4, 1859, though the colonnades and porticos of these 
additions were not completed until shortly after the close of the 
Civil War. The dome of the Capitol, which had not been com- 
menced until 1856, was completed August 26, 1864. The work 
of completing the building was carried on during the Civil War 
at the instance of President Lincoln, who believed that its con- 



History of the City of Washington 435 

tinuance would have a powerful moral effect upon the country, 
and particularly upon those Union soldiers who had occasion to 
pass through Washington. 

The bronze doors at the east entrance to the rotunda are 
the design of Randolph Rogers, who was specially commissioned 
by Congress to design them. They were cast at Munich, Bavaria, 
in 1861, and were designed and modelled at Rome. The bronze 
doors at the entrances to the Senate and House wings were 
designed by Thomas Crawford. 

The total cost of the Capitol up to July 15, 1870, was 
$12,256,150. 

The original construction of the President's House has 
been detailed in the chapters dealing with the establishment of 
the city. 

James Hoban's design contemplated a central building 
with wings or terraces. It is uncertain just when the original 
east and west terraces were constructed, but they were probably 
completed during the administration of President Jefferson, 
whose office was on the site of the present Executive Offices / 
opposite the entrance to the Navy Department. 

After the destruction of the interior of the building by the 
British in 1814, it was rebuilt within the original walls which 
like those of the Capitol were painted white to obliterate the 
marks of the fire. The new building was completed in 1818. 
In 1819 Congress appropriated $8,137 "for enlarging the offices I 
west of the President's House." The south portico was added 
about 1823, and the north portico about 1829. In 1848 gas 
lighting was installed and in 1853 a system of heating and 
ventilating was put in effect. About 1857 the west terrace was 
used to support a greenhouse which remained until the restora- 
tion of the building in 1902. The original east terrace was 
removed some time prior to 1870. 

By Act of June 20, 1902, Congress appropriated $540,641 
for the complete renovation and restoration of the building and 
the construction of a separate temporary office for the President. 
The work was placed in charge of Messrs. McKini, Mend and 
White, architects, of New York, and occupied about four months. 



436 History of the City of Washington 

The alterations made were very extensive as the size of the ap- 
propriation will indicate. They involved the removal of the 
greenhouse, the restoration of the terraces, with a public entrance 
at the end of the east terrace and the President's office at the 
end of the west terrace. Many structural changes were made 
in the main building the chief purposes of which were : " to put 
the house in the condition originally planned but never fully 
carried out ; to make the changes in such a manner that the 
house will never again have to be altered; that is to say, the 
work should represent the period to which the house belongs 
architecturally, and therefore, be independent of changing 
fashion ; to modernize the house in so far as the living rooms are 
concerned, and provide all those conveniences which are now 
lacking. ' ' 

In its restored condition the mansion approaches architec- 
turally as nearly as possible the intentions of the founders, while 
the interior accommodations have been skillfully adapted to 
the needs of the times. 

In the chapters on the establishment of the city mention is 
made of the construction of the Treasury Department building, 
erected in 1799 by the original Commissioners. This building 
was destroyed by the British in 1814 and a new building was 
speedily erected in its place. This was destroyed by fire on 
March 31, 1833. By Act of Congress approved July 4, 1836, the 
President was authorized to select a site and construct a new 
fire proof building for this Department. This Act carried an 
appropriation of $100,000, and was the beginning of the present 
structure. It is commonly told that President Jackson, tiring 
of delay in the selection of the site, walked over the ground one 
morning and planted his cane in the northeast corner of the 
present site with the words: "Here, right here, I want the 
corner stone laid. ' ' At any rate, Robert Mills, the architect for 
the building, testified before a committee of Congress in 1838 
that "The precise position of the building had been determined 
by the positive directions of the late President. ' ' The investiga- 
tion at which this testimony was given was the result of vigorous 
criticism to the location, design and materials of the building 



History of the City of Washington 437 

and resulted in the employment of Thomas U. Walter of Phila- 
delphia to supervise the completion of the work. 

This portion of the building was completed in 1842 at a 
cost of $660,773. It extended 340 feet along 15th Street and 
was 170 feet deep. 

By Act of March 3, 1855, Congress appropriated $300,000 
for extending the building upon plans prepared by Mr. Walter. 
Under this act the south wing was completed in 1861, and the 
west wing in 1864. The site of the present north wing of the 
building was then occupied by the brick building of the State 
Department. This building was torn down in November, 1866, 
and the construction of the north wing of the Treasury build- 
ing begun in April of the following year. This wing was finished 
in 1869. The total building as thus completed cost $6,127,465.32. 

The original east wing was faced with sandstone from Aquia 
Creek and ornamented with thirty drum columns of the same 
material. The other wings were faced with granite and orna- 
mented with granite monolithic columns quarried from Dix 
Island, near Rockland, Maine, and brought to Washington in 
sailing vessels. 

The work of replacing the sandstone facing and drum col- 
umns of the east wing with granite facing and monolithic granite 
columns was commenced in May, 1907, and completed in the 
latter part of 1908. The stone for this work was quarried at 
Milford, New Hampshire. 

The Patent Office building was begun in the fall of 1836 
under an Act of Congress appropriating $108,000 out. of the 
Patent Fund. The part of the building erected at this time 
was that facing F Street. The body of the building was Virginia 
sandstone and the front was faced with split granite. It is 
said that the proportions of the portico on F Street are exactly 
those of the Parthenon at Athens. This wing was completed in 
1840 at a cost of $422,011.65. 

The east wing fronting on 7th Street was begun in 1849 
and completed in 1852 at a cost of $600,000. The 9th Street 
wing was begun in 1852 and completed in 1856 at a cost of 
$750,000. The north wing on G Street, which completed the 



438 History of the City of Washington 

building, was begun in 1856 and completed in 1867, at a cost 
of $575,000. The 7th, 9th and G Street wings were of granite, 
with exterior facings and columns of marble. 

The massive granite building of the State, War and Navy- 
Departments, located at the southeast corner of Pennsylvania 
Avenue and 17th Street, west of the Executive Mansion, was 
designed by Mr. A. B. Mullett, the Supervising Architect of the 
Treasury Department. It is 567 feet by 342 feet, covering an 
area of 4.920 acres, with a height of 145 feet. Its construction 
was completed in 1888, at a cost of approximately $11,000,000. 

Previous to the construction of this building the War De- 
partment had been partially housed in the old Winder Building 
at 17th and G Streets, northwest, and the State Department, 
after the demolition of 1866 of the building occupied by it on 
the site of the present north front of the Treasury Building, 
had occupied the building now used as the Washington Orphans' 
Home at 14th and S Streets, northwest. The Navy Department 
and part of the War Department occupied two plain brick 
buildings on the site of the present State, War and Navy De- 
partment building. These buildings were erected in 1815 and 
1820 respectively and were demolished in 1879. 

The Pension Office was completed in 1885. It stands on 
the northwest corner of Judiciary Square, and is a brick struct- 
ure, 400 by 200 feet in size, covering 1.84 acres of ground. It 
was designed by General Montgomery C. Meigs and was modeled 
after the Farnese Palace at Florence, Italy. Its cost was $1,000,- 
000. The most noteworthy feature of the exterior is the frieze 
of terra cotta relief work, three feet wide, extending around the 
building at the height of the first story, representing a military 
and naval procession. The interior is remarkable for the exten- 
sive open space which is used for inaugural balls, and for the 
enormous brick columns supporting the roof. 

The former General Post Office building now occupied by 
the General Land Office, covering the square bounded by E and 
F, 7th and 8th Streets, was first erected in 1839 on the plans 
prepared by Robert Mills and was enlarged in 1855 on the plans 
of Thomas U. Walter. This building replaced the old Blodget 



History of the City of Washington 439 

Hotel building which had been purchased by the Government 
for a post office in 1810, and which was burned on December 
15, 1836. 

The present structure, which is an adaptation of the Corin- 
thian order of architecture, has much artistic merit, but fails of 
its proper effect in consequence of its proximity to the massive 
elements of the Patent Office building. 

The Post Office Department building, which occupied about 
two years in its construction, was completed in 1899, at a cost 
of $2,585,835. The site was acquired at a cost of $655,490.77. 
The building was designed ' in the office of the Supervising 
Architect of the Treasury, and in style is an adaptation of the 
Romanesque. It is constructed of gray granite. The tower is 
315 feet high. 

The new City Post Office, adjacent to the Union Station, 
was authorized by Act of May 13, 1908. The site cost $450,189, 
and the building when completed will have cost approximately 
$3,000,000. It is to be occupied about July 1, 1914. This marble 
structure which is characterized by an Ionic colonnade on its 
south front, was designed by the office of the Supervising 
Architect of the Treasury, in collaboration with the firm of D. 
H. Burnham and Co., of New York, the designers of the Union 
Station. 

The site of the Customs House on 31st Street between M 
and N Streets in Georgetown was purchased March 27, 1857, for 
$5,000. The building was completed early the following year 
at a cost of $55,368.15. 

The Winder Building at the northwest corner of 17th and 
F Streets, northwest, was constructed in 1848 by W. II. Winder 
and was rented by . the Government until 1854, when it was 
purchased for the sum of $200,000. It was occupied by the 
War Department and the Second Auditor's office (now the 
Auditor for the War Department) until 1888, when the war 
Department was removed to the new State, War and Navy 
Building. It has since then been occupied by the office of the 
Auditor for the War Department. 



440 History of the City of Washington 

The site of the Old Bureau of Engraving and Printing 
building was purchased July 7, 1878, for $27,536.50. The orig- 
inal portion of the building was completed July 1, 1880, at a 
cost of $310,000. In 1880 additional land was purchased and 
in 1891, the wing at the southwest corner was erected at a cost 
of $80,000. In 1895 additions were made at a cost of $50,000, 
and in 1900 the completing wing was constructed at the north- 
west corner. The new building for the Bureau of Engraving 
and Printing on 14th Street just south of the old building was 
commenced in December, 1911, and completed February 24, 
1914. The plans were drawn in the office of the Architect of 
the Treasury under Mr. James Knox Taylor. The design was 
mainly the work of Mr. W. B. Olmstead, at that time the drafts- 
man in charge, subject to some modifications suggested by the 
Commission of Fine Arts. 

The original building for the Department of Agriculture 
was erected in 1868 at a cost of $140,420. It is a brick build- 
ing 170 by 61 feet, three stories high above the basement, with 
mansard roof, and stands near the south edge of the Mall on 
the line of 13th Street. 

The new building for the Department of Agriculture was 
authorized by Act of Congress of February 9, 1903, the cost to 
be limited to $1,500,000. The money appropriated was expended 
by Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson in the erection of 
two separated wings so arranged as to permit of the later erec- 
tion of an impressive central structure connecting them. These 
wings were completed in February, 1908, and stand on the Mall 
just east of 14th Street with their rear projections abruptly 
terminating on B Street, south, apparently in anticipation of 
the closing of this street as suggested in the plans of the Park 
Commission of 1901, and the erection of a south portion of this 
building across the present line of this street, completing a 
hollow square. The present completed wings are of marble 
facing, and are the design of Rankin, Kellogg and Crane, Archi- 
tects, of Philadelphia. 

The beginning of the Library of Congress was a collection 
of nine hundred and seventy-three volumes gathered in London 



History of the City of Washington 441 

in 1800 by Albert Gallatin, Dr. Mitchell and others. The first 
Congressional appropriation for the purchase of books for the 
Library was made in the session of 1805-1806 and authors were 
requested to leave copies of their works with it. 

At the time of the British invasion in 1814 the Library 
possessed three thousand volumes. These were destroyed with 
the burning of the Capitol buildings in which they were kept. 

The nucleus of a new library consisted of the collection of 
Mr. Jefferson of seven thousand volumes which was purchased 
for $23,950. The Capitol as reconstructed contained rooms de- 
signed for the Library in which the books were placed on the 
completion of the building in 1824. On December 24, 1851, the 
Library, which then contained fifty-five thousand volumes, lost 
thirty-five thousand volumes, as well as Gilbert Stuart's paint- 
ings of the first five presidents, by a fire. Under Thomas U. 
Walter, the Library rooms were re-constructed at an expense of 
$72,500, the new quarters taking up the entire western projec- 
tion of the Capitol building, and being fitted with iron cases 
and ceilings. 

In 1866, through the efforts of Hon. Rutherford B. Hayes, 
then Chairman of the House Committee on Library, the collec- 
tions of ex-Mayor Peter Force were purchased for $100,000, and 
the same year the Smithsonian Library was consolidated with 
the Congressional Library. In 1882, the library of Dr. J. M. 
Toner of Washington, was added. 

The construction of a building for the accommodation of 
the Library was authorized by Acts of Congress approved April 
15, 1886, October 2, 1888, and March 2, 1889. The Library of 
Congress Building was completed in 1897. Its cost, not includ- 
ing the site, which cost $585,000, was $6,375,000, much of which 
was spent in its art works. 

The building is of Italian Renaissance, topped by a gilded 
dome. It was originally designed by the architectural firm of 
John L. Smithraeyer and Paul J. Pelz, but their plans were 
modified by Brigadier General Thomas L. Casey, Chief of Engi- 
neers, U. S. A., and the building was erected according to the 
plans as so modified, under the supervision of General Casey 



442 History of the City of Washington 

and Mr. Bernard R. Green. The scheme of the interior archi- 
tecture and decoration is that of Edward Pearce Casey, of New 
York, and it was under his supervision that commissions for 
the mural paintings and sculpture were allotted. The building 
throughout is the product of American artists and artisans. 

The Senate office building was erected under the direction 
of the Superintendent of the Capitol Building and Grounds 
acting under the supervision of a commission consisting of 
Senators Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois, Jacob H. Gallinger, of 
New Hampshire, and Henry M. Teller, of Colorado. ■ The 
consulting architect was John M. Carrere of New York. Proceed- 
ings for the condemnation of the site were begun August 10, 
1904. On March 15, 1905, the demolition of the buildings on 
the site was commenced and on March 5, 1909, the building was 
completed. This building stands on the square bounded by B 
Street, Delaware Avenue, First Street and C Street, northeast, 
and occupies three sides of the square, that on First Street 
remaining open. The site for this building was acquired at a 
cost of $746,111; the construction of the building cost $3,594,- 
761; the furnishing $300,500; and the approaches $123,000; 
total $4,764,372. 

The House of Representatives office building was erected 
under the direction of the Superintendent of the Capitol Build- 
ing and Grounds, acting under the supervision of a commission 
consisting of Representatives Joseph G. Cannon, of Illinois, 
William P. Hepburn, of Iowa, James D. Richards, of Tennessee, 
and Walter I. Smith, of Iowa. Thomas Hastings of New York 
was the consulting architect. The demolition of the buildings 
on the site commenced February 1, 1904, and the building was 
completed November 9, 1907. It stands on the square south of 
the Capitol bounded by B Street, New Jersey Avenue, First 
Street, and C Street, southeast, and occupies all four sides of 
the square. The amount appropriated for the construction of 
the building was $3,100,000 ; for the acquisition of the site $743,- 
635.55; for the approaches $132,500; and for the furnishing 
$300,500 ; total $4,276,635.55. 



History of the City of Washington 443 

The Senate and House office buildings are intended to unite 
with the Capitol to form one composition: the B Street fronts 
"of the office buildings being identical in size and design and 
having the same cornice line as the Capitol. The office build- 
ings were kept simple in design, without pediments, domes, or 
other accentuated features, in order to subordinate them to the 
Capitol. The general division of parts is suggestive of that in 
the Gardes Meubles on the Place de la Concorde, Paris. The 
end pavilions are modeled after those of the Colonnade du 
Louvre. The B Street colonnades are each made up of 17 
"bays" separated by 16 pairs of Roman Doric columns, with 
a single column at each end. The Senate building is faced with 
Vermont marble, the House building with marble from Georgia 
and South Dover, N. Y. 

The Senate office building seriously mars the vista of the 
Capitol from the Union Station. This objection would have 
been obviated if Congress had included the site of the building 
in the proposed Plaza connecting the Capitol and Union Station 
and located the office buildings east of First Street. 

The practice of housing the offices of the government of the 
District of Columbia in rented buildings in various parts of the 
City of Washington, which prevailed for more than thirty years 
after the abandonment of the old City Hall, was regarded by 
both citizens and officials as a source of civic reproach, which 
could not too soon be removed. 

The efforts of the Territorial government to have a municip- 
al building erected on Reservation No. 17, north of the Wash- 
ington Market Company's buildings, was the first tangible 
movement in that direction, but it failed because of the demand 
for all the District's available funds to meet the more urgent 
needs to improve the streets and provide for the requirements 
of current administration. Those efforts resulted in the appro- 
priation by Congress in the deficiency Act of March 3, 1873, of 
not exceeding $75,000 for the purchase by the United States of 
the interest of the District of Columbia in the City Ball, of 
which mention has been made in the chapter on the Territorial 
government. 



444 History of the City of Washington 

No building was begun in pursuance of that law, and the 
subject was practically dormant until 1890, when the Commis- 
sioners in their report for that year made an urgent appeal to 
Congress that provision be made for an adequate home for the 
government of the District. 

In their estimates for 1892 they included an item of $150,000 
to begin such a building to cost between $300,000 and $500,000 ; 
and in their annual report for 1891 recommended the use of the 
site in front of the Washington market for that purpose. The need 
for a structure for the purpose was annually urged by them 
upon Congress, but nothing resulted from the recommendations 
except a favorable report by the Public Buildings Committee of 
the House, on H. R. 7651 of the 53d Congress, on July 6, 1894. 
The Commissioners had about despaired of impressing Congress 
with the importance of the subject, when to their surprise section 
6 of the public building law of June 6, 1902, was enacted and 
provided for the purchase, at a cost not to exceed $550,000, 
which was the price paid for it, of Square 255, upon which the 
power house of the Capital Traction street railway had stood 
before its destruction by fire on September 29, 1897, and for 
the erection thereon of a fireproof building for the accommo- 
dation of the municipal and other officers of the District of 
Columbia, at a cost not to exceed $1,500,000, payable half by 
the District of Columbia and half by the United States. E 
Street between that square and Pennsylvania Avenue was made 
part of that square for the site of the building. The Secretary 
of the Treasury and the Commissioners were directed by that 
law to act jointly in contracting for and erecting the building. 

The building was designed by Cope and Stewardson, archi- 
tects, of Philadelphia, whose plan was submitted and accepted 
in competition with a number of other architects. 

The immediate supervision of the construction of the build- 
ing was placed in charge of "an officer of the Government 
especially qualified for that duty to be appointed by the Pres- 
ident of the United States." Captain Chester Harding, of the 
Corps of Engineers, then an assistant to the Engineer Commis- 
sioner, was appointed to that position, and continued on that 



History of the City of Washington 4:4,5 

duty until the summer of 1907, when he was assigned to assist 
in the construction of the Panama Canal, and was succeeded on 
July 20 of that year by Captain William Kelly, of the same 
Corps, under whose supervision the building was completed. 

The maximum expenditure for the building was fixed at 
$2,000,000, and the title to the site transferred to the District 
of Columbia, by the public building Act of March 3, 1903. Its 
actual cost was about $1,950,000. The material of the building 
is white marble obtained from South Dover, New York. 

The building was begun on June 17, 1904. It was dedicated 
in connection with the morning celebration of the one hundred 
and thirty-first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, 
by the citizens of the District, under arrangements made by 
a committee appointed by the Washington Board of Trade and 
the Washington Chamber of Commerce, of which Mr. John Joy 
Edson was chairman. The exercises were held on the steps of 
the main entrance, and consisted of addresses by the Speaker of 
the House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Treasury, 
Mr. A. B. Browne, representing the Washington Board of Trade, 
and Mr. Chapin Brown, representing the Washington Chamber 
of Commerce, and Hon. Henry B. F. Macfarland, the President 
of the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia; 
Chairman John Joy Edson presiding and making brief introduc- 
tory remarks. The United States Marine Band furnished the 
music. An American flag presented by the Washington Cham- 
ber of Commerce was unfurled, to an appropriate salute. 

The municipal offices were moved into the building during 
June and July of 1908. 

The Police Court building is situated at the northwest cor- 
ner of 6th and D Streets, northwest, on the site of the old Uni- 
tarian Church, which was purchased by the District out of an 
appropriation of $20,000 made June 4, 1880 for that purpose. 
The building was constructed and the site enlarged out of an ap- 
propriation of $38,000 made April 27, 1904. While the building 
was in course of erection the court held its sessions in a rented 
building on 15th Street between D and E Streets, northwest. 



446 History of the City of Washington 

The building occupied by the Court from its inception until 
its removal to the Unitarian Church building was numbered 466 
C Street, northwest. 

The Smithsonian Institution is the outgrowth of the provis- 
ion in the will of James Smithson, an Englishman, who died 
at Genoa, Italy, June 27, 1829, whereby a legacy of practically 
his entire property was after the death of a nephew without 
issue, bequeathed "to found at Washington, under the name of 
the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase 
and diffusion of knowledge among men." On the death of Mr. 
Hungerford, the nephew who held a life interest in Mr. Smith- 
son's estate, the estate became available for the purposes of the 
institution in 1835. After some correspondence between the 
English solicitors for the estate and John Forsyth, Secretary of 
State, President Jackson transmitted the entire matter to Con- 
gress on the 17th of December, 1835, for such measures as might 
be deemed necessary. The result was that Congress decided to 
act in the capacity of parens patriae of the District of Columbia 
for the purpose of appearing in the courts of England and 
maintaining the claim of the City of "Washington as trustee for 
the intended institution to be located in that city. 

By Act approved July 1, 1836, the President was authorized 
to appoint an agent to prosecute for and in behalf of the United 
States in the courts of England the right of the United States 
to the legacy bequeathed by Mr. Smithson 's will. Under author- 
ity of this Act President Jackson appointed Richard Rush, of 
Pennsylvania, agent to recover the funds. After some contest 
a decision was made by the English Chancery Court on May 
9, 1838, the net proceeds of which amounted to £106,370 7s 3d, 
equal to $508,314.46 in American money. Of this sum the 
Secretary of the Treasury under authority of Congress, invested 
$499,500 in the purchase of bonds of the State of Arkansas, and 
$8,270.67 in bonds of the State of Michigan. Other small invest- 
ments of the fund were made as it grew. 

The question of the means to be adopted in disposing of 
this fund agitated Congress for eight years after the receipt of 
the money. Ex-President John Quincy Adams, then a member 



History of the City of Washington 447 

of Congress, continually urged action. After considering many- 
plans, including that which had many advocates — the returning 
of the money to England, Congress finally, by Act approved 
August 10, 1846, authorized the establishment of the Smithson- 
ian Institution on land to be selected from that part of the 
Mall west of 7th Street, and providing that the Institution to 
be so established should be devoted to agriculture, horticulture, 
rural economy, chemistry, nature history, geology, architecture, 
domestic science, astronomy and navigation. 

At this time the fund aggregated more than $800,000, 
though a considerable amount of interest due from the States 
to which it had been loaned was in default. This amount was 
appropriated by the Act for the establishment of the Institution 
since the bonds in which the original fund had been invested, 
had some years yet to run. 

The present building was shortly afterwards commenced 
and was completed in 1855. It is of Byzantine architecture and 
is constructed of red sand stone from quarries on the upper 
Potomac. It extends 426 feet east and west. The building was 
designed by James Ren wick, Jr., and was the first non- 
ecclesiastical building of this style of architecture erected in 
this country. Immediately on its completion it was made the 
repository of the national collections which dated back to the 
United States Exploring Expedition around the world from 
1838 to 1842. 

The Chancellors of the Institution have been the Justices 
of the Supreme Court of the United States and the Secretaries 
of the Institution. The first Secretary was Professor Joseph 
Henry, who served until May 13, 1878. He was succeeded by 
his assistant, Professor Spencer Fulton Baird who served until 
his death, August 19, 1887. Professor Baird was succeeded by 
his assistant, Professor Samuel P. Langley, who served until 
his death in 1906, and was succeeded by Professor Charles D. 
Walcott, the present Secretary. 

The original National Museum building was begun in 1879, 
as a consequence of the crowded condition of the Smithsonian 
Institution building, and was completed in 1881. It is a one- 



448 History of the City of Washington 

story brick building just east of the Smithsonian building, cover- 
ing slightly more than two acres of ground. 

In 1883 the need for additional space induced the Board 
of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to apply to Congress 
for a third building, but, notwithstanding the continued repeti- 
tion of this request, nothing was done until 1902, when Con- 
gress authorized the prepartaion of plans. All the important 
museum buildings of Europe and America were visited for ideas 
to be embodied in the new structure. The architects were 
Messrs. Hornblower and Marshall of Washington. The construc- 
tion of a building with granite fronts to cost not exceeding 
$3,500,000, under the supervision of Bernard R. Green, Superin- 
tendent of Buildings and Grounds of the Library of Congress, 
was authorized by the Sundry Civil Act for the year ending 
June 30, 1904. 

Ground was broken on June 15, 1904, by Secretary Langley 
of the Smithsonian Institution ; the cornerstone was laid October 
15, 1906 ; and the building was completed June 20, 1911. The 
portico is of the Roman Corinthian order, and the capitols of 
the two rows of columns supporting the entablature are patterned 
after those of the Temple of Jupiter Stator at Rome. 

The erection of the George Washington Memorial Hall with 
a seating capacity of 6,000, was authorized by Act of Congress 
of March 4, 1913, to be begun upon the raising of a building 
fund of $1,000,000, and an endowment fund of $500,000. The 
building will be administered by the Board of Regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution and will be located on the site of the 
old Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Depot at Sixth and B 
Streets, northwest. The plans of Tracy and Swartwont of New 
York were accepted in competition on May 4, 1914. 

The Carnegie Institution of Washington was founded by 
Mr. Andrew Carnegie, January 28, 1902, with an endowment 
of ten million dollars to which on December 10, 1907, he added 
two million dollars, and on January 19, 1911, another ten mil- 
lions, making in all to the present time twenty-two million dol- 
lars. The Institution was first incorporated on January 4, 1902, 
under the laws of the District of Columbia, as the Carnegie 



History of the City of Washington 449 

Institution. It was reincorporated by Act of Congress of April 
28, 1904, as the Carnegie Institution of Washington. 

The Executive Offices of the Institution are contained in 
the handsome three-story Ionic building of Bedford limestone 
at Sixteenth and P Streets, northwest, and are under the direc- 
tion of Professor Robert S. Woodward. To the present time 
ten departments of investigation have been organized, with 
numerous experiment stations, plants and reservations through- 
out the country, including the non-magnetic auxiliary brig 
' ' Carnegie. ' ' 

The National Geographic Society was established January 
27, 1888, by a small band of explorers and scientists, "for the 
increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge." In 1899 
the Society entered upon the project of popularizing geograph- 
ical research through the columns of its magazine. In 1902 
the heirs of Hon. Gardner Greene Hubbard built Hubbard 
Memorial Hall at the corner of Sixteenth and M Streets, north- 
west, as a home for the Society and a memorial to its first 
President. This is now used for the accommodation of the 
board rooms and library. The administration building adjoin- 
ing was constructed by the Society in 1913 on the plans of 
Arthur B. Heaton. It is of Italian Renaissance architecture. 
The materials are white brick trimmed with white limestone. 

The project of establishing a public library was first agitat- 
ed in the newspapers and by the Board of Trade, the School 
trustees, and various workingmen's and citizens' organizations 
in 1894 as a supplement to the public schools. The establish- 
ment of such a library was authorized by Act of Congress 
approved June 3, 1896 and was largely the result of the efforts 
of Mr. Theodore W. Noyes, Chairman of the Committee on 
Library of the Board of Trade. In 1898 Congress appropriated 
$6,720 for salaries of a librarian and two assistants and for 
other expenses. A three-story building at 1326 New York- 
Avenue was rented and 15,000 volumes acquired by private 
donation were installed. For the purchase of books Mr. Crosby 
S. Noyes contributed, $1,000, the firm of Woodward and Lothrop 
$1,000, Charles C. Glover, $250, John R. McLean, $250, and 



450 History of the City of Washington 

many others smaller amounts. James T. Dubois created a fund 
of $2,000 which he promised to increase to $5,000 to be known 
as the Henry Pastor Memorial Fund, the interest on which was 
to be used in the purchase of scientific periodicals. The largest 
book contribution was the incorporated Washington City Free 
Library. The estate of Anthony Pollock contributed fifteen 
hundred books. 

On January 12, 1899, Mr. Andrew Carnegie and Mr. B. IL 
Warner, Vice President of the Board of Trustees of the Library, 
met by accident at the White House. The needs of the Library 
were mentioned by Mr. Warner, whereupon Mr. Carnegie offered 
to donate $250,000 for a building if a suitable site could be 
obtained and if Congress would appropriate for the maintenance 
of the institution. Shortly after he increased the donation to 
$350,000. 

On March 3, 1899, President McKinley signed an act of 
Congress setting aside Mount Vernon Square as the site for 
the building. Under this act the construction of the building 
was entrusted to a commission composed of the District Com- 
missioners, the officer in charge of public buildings and grounds 
and the President of the Board of Trustees of the Library. The 
design of Messrs. Ackerman and Ross of New York was chosen 
and on June 21, 1900, the contract for the foundation was 
signed. The cornerstone was laid on April 24, 1901. The royal- 
ties on the book stacks, amounting to $530 were donated by 
Mr. Bernard R. Green, the Superintendent of Construction, by 
whom the stacks were patented. On December 13, 1902, the 
completed building was accepted by the Commission. It was 
formally dedicated to the public with elaborate ceremonies on 
January 7, 1903. ; 

The original building of the Corcoran Gallery of Art at 
the northeast corner of Seventeenth Street and Pennsylvania 
Avenue was designed by Mr. James Ren wick and begun in 1859. 
In 1861 it was occupied by the Quartermaster General's Depart- 
ment of the Army which remained in it until 1869. On May 
10, 1869, its owner, Mr. William Wilson Corcoran, deeded the 
ground, building and contents, and an endowment fund to a 



History of the City of Washington 451 

board of nine trustees "to be used solely for the purposes of 
encouraging American genius in the production and preserva- 
tion of works pertaining to the fine arts and kindred objects," 
with the condition that it should be open free to visitors at least 
two days each week. 

The institution was incorporated and exempted from taxa- 
tion by Act of Congress of May 24, 1870. The building was 
reconstructed in 1871 and Mr. Corcoran 's private art collection 
placed in it. The picture galleries, Octagon Room and Hall of 
Bronzes were opened privately on January 19, 1874, and the 
entire building thrown open to the public in the following 
December. 

Owing to the demand for additional space and the impossi- 
bility of acquiring the necessary ground adjoining the old 
building the trustees on April 3, 1891, determined upon the 
purchase of a part of square 171 on 17th Street, between E 
Street and New York Avenue, northwest, which was subsequent- 
ly acquired. 

On January 9, 1892, the erection of a gallery on the new 
site was decided upon and Mr. Ernest Flagg of New York was 
selected as the architect. Ground was broken on June 26, 1893, 
and the cornerstone laid May 10, 1894. The building was com- 
pleted January 8, 1897, and formally opened on the evening 
of February 22 of the same year, nearly three thousand invited 
guests, including President and Mrs. Cleveland, being present. 
The building fronts 259 feet on Seventeenth Street and is 133 
feet deep. It is constructed of Georgia marble with a basement 
of Milford pink granite and is on the Neo-Grecian style of 
architecture. The bronze lions at the entrance were cast from 
moulds made over the famous lions by Canova which guard the 
tomb of Clement XIII in St. Peter's, Rome. 

The Memorial Continental Hall which occupies the 17th 
Street frontage of the block between C and D Streets, north- 
west, facing the White Lot from the west, was erected by the 
National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, in 
memory of the patriots of the American Revolution, both men 
and women. The purchase of the site was decided upon by 



452 History of the City of Washington 

the Memorial Continental Hall Committee on June 4, 1902, and 
the ground soon after acquired at a net cost of $50,266.17. On 
June 4, 1903, the Committee employed Mr. Edward Pearce 
Casey of New York City, to be the architect of the proposed 
building, and on January 8, 1904, Mr. Casey 's plans and prelim- 
inary sketches were accepted. 

The cornerstone of the building was laid on the afternoon 
of Tuesday, April 19, 1904. The following April, the 14th 
Continental Congress was held in the central portion of the 
building. The Memorial portico was dedicated by the 16th 
Continental Congress on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 17, 
1907. The entire building was completed and much of the 
mahogany furniture donated by the various States installed in 
time for the holding of the 19th Continental Congress, April 
18-23, 1910. The total cost of the building was somewhat over 
$500,000. 

The building is designed upon the general style of the 
homesteads of Revolutionary times and is constructed of Ver- 
mont marble. The south portico and all the interior furnishings 
and decorations of the buildings are the gifts of various individ- 
uals, societies and States. 

The building for the Pan-American Union is located on the 
block between B and C Streets on 17th Street, northwest, facing 
the White Lot from the west and is the result of a gift of 
$750,000 by Mr. Andrew Carnegie, to which the twenty-one 
American Republics added the sum of $250,000, which was 
used in the purchase of the site. The square upon which this 
building and its grounds are located was formerly the site of 
the residence of David Burnes, one of the original proprietors 
of the land occupied by the City of Washington, and of the 
Van Ness mansion, built by Mr. Burnes' son-in-law, John P. 
Van Ness. 

The designs for the building were the joint product of Mr. 
Albert Kelsey of Philadelphia, and Mr. Paul P. Cret, Professor 
of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, a native of France 
and a graduate of the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Paris. 



History of the City of Washington 453 

The colossal groups on either side of the entrance represent- 
ing North and South America are respectively the* work of 
Gutzon Borglun and Isidore Konti. These sculptors are also 
respectively the designers of the historic bronze panels in low 
relief representing General Washington bidding farewell to his 
Generals and the meeting of San Martin and Bolivar. The Eagle 
and the Condor are the work of Solon Borgun and the panel 
in the concourse above the portico arches is the work of Konti. 

The laying of the foundation for the building commenced 
on April 13, 1908. On May 11, 1908, elaborate public ceremonies 
in connection with the laying of the cornerstone were held. 
The dedication of the building occurred on April 26, 1910, and 
was participated in by President Taft, Secretary of State, Knox, 
Mr. Andrew Carnegie, Ambassador Francisco Leon De la Barra, 
the Mexican Ambassador, who spoke on behalf of the Latin- 
American Republics, Senator Elihu Root, Cardinal Gibbons, 
Bishop Harding, Mr. Albert Kelsey, the architect, and Director 
General Barrett of the Pan-American Union. 

The row of semi-public buildings on 17th Street will be 
completed by the so-called Red Cross building to be located on 
the block facing 17th Street between E and F Streets, filling 
in the present gap between the Memorial Continental Hall and 
the Corcoran Art Gallery. This building was provided for by 
Act of Congress approved October 22, 1913, appropriating $400,. 
000 on condition that at least $300,000 additional should be 
raised by private subscription. It is intended to commemorate 
the services and sacrifices of the women of the United States, 
north and south, for the sick and wounded in war. 

The ground breaking for the towering classic temple of the 
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry at the 
southeast corner of 16th and S Streets, northwest, took place 
on May 31, 1911, the 110th anniversary of the establishment of 
the Supreme Council for the {Southern jurisdiction of the 
United States, the mother council of the world, at Charleston, 
South Carolina, May 31, 1801. The informal ceremony was 
presided over by Hon. James D. Richardson, the Grand Com- 
mander of the Order. 



454 History of the City of Washington 

The design of this structure, by John Russell Pope of New 
York, and Elliott Woods, the Superintendent of the Capitol, is 
strikingly similar to the commonly accepted restoration of the 
Mausoleum at Halikarnassus, one of the ancient Seven Wonders 
of the World. 

Early in the 19th century Professor Hassler constructed at 
New Jersey Avenue and C Street, southeast, a small brick 
building with iron doors and windows, intended to be fireproof, 
for the storage of engraved plates and other records and prop- 
erty of the Coast Survey. This was occupied until 1874. 

On August 2, 1832, the Survey occupied a building on the 
west side of New Jersey Avenue, south of the present building, 
built by Thomas Law about 1800, and a house adjoining it on 
the north. These are now included in the Hotel Varnum. 

In 1871 the Survey moved into the present Richards build- 
ing, a brick structure on the east side of New Jersey Avenue 
just south of the Butler Building and extending through to 
South Capitol Street. This building was purchased for the 
Survey on September 21, 1891, for $155,000. 

On April 10, 1891, the three Cape Ann granite buildings 
on B Street, South Capitol Street and New Jersey Avenue, 
erected by General Benj. F. Butler in 1873-4, were purchased 
by the Treasury Department for $275,000. The one fronting 
on B Street, which had at one time been occupied by President 
Arthur as the Presidential residence and office was assigned to 
the Marine Hospital Service, now the Public Health Service. 
The other two were assigned to the Coast and Geodetic Survey. 
A brick structure to the rear of the Survey is occupied by it for 
chart printing purposes. 

The first structure used as a naval astronomical observatory 
was erected on Capitol Hill in 1834 under Lieutenant Wilkes of 
the Navy as a naval depot of charts, and was equipped with a 
number of astronomical instruments. In this building a series 
of observations was made from 1838 to 1842 by Lieutenant 
James M. Gillis of the Navy, which did much to bring about the 
eventual establishment of a permanent observatory. 



History of the City of Washington 455 

John Quincy Adams, while a member of the House of Rep- 
resentatives, was an ardent advocate of the project to establish 
such an observatory, and when the Smithsonian fund became 
available he repeatedly urged as chairman of the committee on 
that fund, an appropriation from it for his favorite object. The 
personal opposition of the friends of President Jackson de- 
feated Mr. Adams' wishes so far as the Smithsonian fund was 
concerned, but Congress, under the guise of establishing a depot 
of charts and instruments for the Navy, initiated the observa- 
tory by an Act approved August 31, 1842, authorizing the con- 
struction of buildings to cost not more than $25,000 on a site to 
be selected by the President. 

The site chosen was as area of about seAeuteen acres on the 
eminence known as "Observatory Hill" in west Washington, 
then bounded by the bank of the Potomac River, E Street, 23d 
and 25th Streets, northwest. It now overlooks the site of the 
Lincoln Memorial, and its buildings are occupied by the Naval 
Hospital. 

The original buildings were constructed under Lieutenant 
Oillis who went to Europe and consulted foreign astronomers 
with regard to plans for them. They were completed in Sep- 
tember, 1844. 

The new Naval Observatory was begun on its present site 
north of Georgetown in January, 1889, and was officially occu- 
pied May 15, 1893. 

The United States Army Medical Library and Museum is 
located in a three-story brick building at the corner of Seventh 
and B Streets, southwest. This Library originated with the 
medical books is the office of the Surgeon General of the Army, 
which began to attain considerable numbers under Surgeon 
General Joseph Lovell in 1836. At the outbreak of the Civil 
War it was greatly enlarged for the use of the army surgeons 
by Surgeon General William A. Hammond. M the chw of the 
Civil War the results of the medical and surgical experience 
gained by the Army Medical Corps during that conflict were 
collated in six enormous volumes under the title of "The Medi- 
cal and Surgical History of the Civil War." This work was 



456 History of the City of Washington 

the first of its kind and made a great impression, particularly in 
Europe. Together with the then existing library of the Sur- 
geon General's office, it formed the nucleus of the present Army 
Medical Library. 

Following the close of the Civil War, Dr. John S. Billings, 
Colonel, Medical Corps, U. S. A., obtained appropriations from 
year to year for the purchase of medical publications for this 
library, and entered upon the work of indexing them. In 1887 
the present building, which had been authorized by Congress 
as the result of the efforts of Dr. Billings, was completed for the 
accommodation of this library and of the Army Medical Muse- 
um, which possessed a valuable collection of specimens, particu- 
larly of gun shot wounds. 

The Army Medical Library now has upward of 500,000 vol- 
umes and pamphlets and 5,000 portraits. It is the largest medi- 
cal library in the world, and has been the inspiration for numer- 
ous similar institutions which have been established throughout 
the United States. 

The reservation on Greenleaf's or Arsenal Point has been 
in use as a military post since 1797, this being one of the reser- 
vations provided for in the laying out of the city of Washing- 
ton. It originally contained something over 28 acres, but addi- 
tional land was acquired by purchase in 1857, and the limits 
have been extended by filling in the shores until the tract now 
contains approximately 87 acres. Upon this reservation was 
erected the old penitentiary building, still standing, in the yard 
of which took place the execution of the persons convicted r, 
conspiracy in the assassination of President Lincoln. This 
building was erected under authority of Act of Congress of 
May 20, 1826, at a cost of $40,000. 

The Army War College located on this reservation was au- 
thorized by Congress in 1899 in response to the urgent recom- 
mendation of Secretary of War Elihu Root, who based his rec- 
ommendations upon the report of Brigadier General Emory 
Upton — famous as the leader of the charge at Spottsylvania 
Court House on May 10, 1864 — who, after the close of the Civil 
War, had been sent by General Sherman, with two associates, 



History of the City of Washington 457 

around the world to study the armies of Europe and Asia. 
General Upton's report relating to the reorganization of the 
Army had for years lain dormant in the archives of the War 
Department when it was brought to the attention of the country 
by Secretary Root. 

The grounds and buildings of the College were planned by 
the architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White of New 
York. The cornerstone of the College building was laid Febru- 
ary 21, 1903, with Masonic ceremonies, the gavel used being that 
used by President Washington in laying the cornerstone of the 
Capitol in 1793. The building was completed in 1907. The 
statue of Frederick the Great of Prussia, which stands at the 
northwest approach to the building, was presented to the College 
by Emperor William of Germany and was unveiled November 
19, 1904. 

In the original plan of the city of Washington provision 
had been made for the Navy Yard, to which a tract including 
slightly over 37 acres had been assigned. In addition, the 
United States on March 17, 1800, purchased of the Commission- 
ers who laid out the city, two additional squares — Nos. 883 and 
884 — for the sum of $4,000, the deed being executed by Com- 
missioners Scott and Thornton. The establishment of the Yard 
was provided for by Act of Congress of February 25, 1799, in 
response to the recommendations of Benjamin Stoddert, Secre- 
tary of the Navy under President Washington, and was due to 
the French aggressions upon the commerce of this country. 
The Act referred to authorized the construction of six frigates 
and appropriated $1,000,000 for the establishment of six navy 
yards at New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Portsmouth, Nor- 
folk and Washington respectively. 

The Yard was laid out on the plans of Benjamin H. Latrobe 
under the direction of Captain Thomas Tingey, its first Com- 
mandant. Under the peace policy of President Jefferson a 
number of vessels were laid up in ordinary at the Yard in 1802; 
and the activities of the Yard were for a number of years con- 
fined to overhauling and repairing. The sloop of war Wasp 
was built at the Yard in 1805, and the schooner Lynx in 18] 4. 



458 History of the City of Washington 

On August 24, 1814, the Yard was destroyed by Captain Tingey, 
under orders from the Secretary of the Navy, in order to pre- 
vent its stores from falling into the hands of the British. The 
loss caused by this event was estimated at $417,475, and in- 
cluded the frigate Columbia and sloop of war Argus, which 
were under construction at the Yard. 

Following the War of 1812, the Yard was the scene of 
Robert Fulton's experiments with the naval torpedo, which, for 
want of financial support, were unproductive of practical 
results. 

In March, 1819, the 74-gun ship Columbus was launched at 
the Yard, and following this the schooner Shark was launched 
May 17, 1821; the 44-gun Potomac and the schooner Grampus 
in 1822; the 44-gun Brandywine in June, 1825; the sloop St. 
Louis in 1828 ; and the 64-gun frigate Columbia on March 9, 
1836. The sloop St. Mary's was launched at the Yard Novem- 
ber 24, 1844; a small iron steamer, the Water Witch, at about 
this time ; the steamer Union on December 5, 1846 ; and the 
Minnesota shortly before the Civil War. 

In 1847 Lieutenant John A. Dahlgren was ordered to ord- 
inance and equipment duty at the Yard. His experiments to 
ascertain and standardize the ranges of the different classes of 
naval guns then in use were productive of great improvement in 
the gunnery of the Navy and resulted in the numerous improve- 
ments in gun manufacture and design which have made their 
inventor famous. 

On April 21, 1861, Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles 
directed the Commandant of the Yard, Captain Buchanan, to 
equip for war service the steamers Baltimore, Mount Vernon, 
Philadelphia and Powhatan. On receipt of this order Captain 
Buchanan resigned his commission and joined the Confederate 
service. Commander Dahlgren was at once appointed in his 
place. Shortly afterwards the 71st New York Volunteers was 
assigned to the Yard for its protection. 

During the early period of the War the Yard was actively 
engaged in outfitting the Steamers Pawnee, Keystone State, 
Anacostia, Mt. Vernon, Pocahontas, Powhatan, James Gray and 



History of the City of Washington 459 

Baltimore for keeping the Potomac open to navigation. 
Throughout the War the Yard was employed in repairing and 
outfitting the vessels of the Navy but did no construction work. 
After the War its importance rapidly declined until following 
the commencement of the rehabilitation of the Navy in the early 
eighties, Secretary Whitney, by order of August 14, 1886, as- 
signed the Yard to the control of the Bureau of Ordnance. Gov- 
ernment Reservations Nos. 326 and 327 lying on the west side of 
the Yard and containing about two acres of ground were added 
to it and a railroad track laid on this new portion of the Yard 
connecting with the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad. 

Shortly after this the establishment of the new gun manu- 
facturing plant began. This plant was completed about 1890 
and has grown as the needs of the service required. It is now 
engaged in the manufacture of fourteen-inch guns for the new 
super-dreadnaughts of the Navy. 

The movement looking to the creation of a Home for Aged 
Soldiers of the United States Army dates back as far as Febru- 
ary 27, 1829, when a report was made by the Committee on 
Military Affairs in Congress upon the subject of establishing 
"An Army Asylum Fund." In 1840, Captain Robert Anderson, 
later of Fort Sumpter fame, set forth the advantages which 
would result from such an institution, and outlined a plan for 
acquiring it. The Military Committee of the House of Repre- 
sentatives, embodied this letter in a report dated January 7, 
1841, submitting to Congress an appeal containing the sub- 
stance of General Anderson's suggestions. In 1844, Major 
General Winfield Scott gave particular attention to this project 
in his annual report, and on the strength of General Scott's 
representations, the Committee on Military Affairs began urging 
the creation of such an establishment. On March 5, 1846, the 
Committee, acting upon a memorial of the officers stationed at 
Ft. Moultrie, and a petition signed by the officers of the Second 
United States Infantry, again called the matter to the attention 
of Congress, and repeated their recommendations on January 
19, 1848, in a report based upon a memorial signed by the offi- 
cers of the Army then in Mexico. All of these reports of the 



460 History of the City of Washington 

Committee favored the enactment of the bill which had been re- 
ported in 1841. 

During the siege of Mexico City, General Scott, in conse- 
quence of a breach of truce by the Mexicans, levied a tribute 
upon the City of Mexico of $300,000. He. transmitted $100,000 
of this sum to the Secretary of War in 1848, expressing the 
hope that the money might be placed to the credit of an army 
asylum. These funds, together with $18,791.19 of the same 
levy, were, by Act of Congress of March 3, 1851, made available 
for the support of the desired institution, which was created by 
that Act. As a source of perpetual revenue the Act of 1851 
appropriated to the use of the Home all stoppage and fines ad- 
judged against soldiers by sentence of court marshal forfeitures 
on account of desertion, a certain portion of the hospital and 
post fund of each station, moneys belonging to estates of deceased 
soldiers unclaimed for three years, and also a deduction of 25 
cents per month from the pay of each enlisted man. 

Under the Act of March 3, 1851, providing for the home, 
temporary asylums were established in 1851 at New Orleans, 
Greenwood's Island, Mississippi, and in Washington City, the 
latter in the Winder Building at 17th and G Streets, northwest. 
The location in the District of Columbia was made the perma- 
nent home and in 1851 256 acres were purchased for this pur- 
pose. Between that time and 1869 about 16 acres were added 
at different times and in 1872 the adjoining estate of Harewood 
containing 191 acres was purchased from Mr. W. W. Corcoran. 
Other small tracts have been acquired since that time, making 
a total of 500 3-4 acres in the entire tract. The total amount 
paid for the property was $326,354.55. 

The principal building on the grounds is the white marble 
building. The south part is named after General Winfield Scott 
and the addition on the north after General W. T. Sherman. 
A short distance west of the Scott Building is a building named 
after General Robert Anderson in recognition of his efforts for 
the establishment of the Home. This was the first building oc- 
cupied by the inmates of the Home and was used by Presidents 
Buchanan, Lincoln, Hayes and Arthur as a summer residence. 



History of the City of Washington 461 

The eastern building is named the King Building in honor of 
Surgeon B. King who for thirteen years was the attending Sur- 
geon and Secretary and Treasurer of the Home. Northeast of 
the Scott building is the building named in honor of General 
Philip H. Sheridan, erected in 1883. The mess hall and dormi- 
tory building of white marble named in honor of General U. S. 
Grant was occupied July 12, 1910. 

The Walter Reed General Hospital at Takoma Park, D. C, 
was established inl908 as the general army hospital for the ter- 
ritory east of the Mississippi. It occupies 41 acres of land on 
the former 7th Street Pike, now Georgia Avenue. It is named 
after Colonel Walter Reed of the Medical Corps of the Army, 
who acquired fame as the head of the commission which investi- 
gated yellow fever conditions in Cuba at the time of the Spanish 
American War, and met his death in that service. The institu- 
tion is intended for the treatment of particularly serious and 
difficult cases transferred from the various post hospitals in the 
territory to which it is assigned. 

The buildings now erected and in course of construction 
represent an outlay of nearly $500,000. The hospital is designed 
with a view to extensive temporary enlargement in the event of 
hostilities. . 

The U. S. Naval Hospital was founded in 1863 and assigned 
to the Washington Navy Yard, April 6, 1869. The brick build- 
ing at 9th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, southeast, was fin- 
ished in 1865. The new buildings erected on the grounds of 
the old Naval Observatory at the foot of 23d Street, southwest, 
were occupied October 16, 1906. The building at 9th Street and 
Pennsylvania Avenue continued to be occupied as a hospital until 
1911, when it was abandoned and occupied by the Navy Depart- 
ment for office purposes. -^ 

The Commission of Fish and Fisheries was established in 
1871 as the result of the efforts of the various State fishing au- 
thorities and the members of the American Fish Cultural Asso- 
ciation — now the American Fisheries Society. Its purpose was 
to investigate into the diminution in the supply of food fishes of 
the United States and the means of checking it. The headquar- 



462 History of the City of Washington 

ters building of the Commission, a three-story brick structure 
at 6th and B Streets, southwest, besides housing the executive 
offices, contains an interesting museum of marine life. This 
building had previously served an armory for the District militia 
for which purpose it was erected at a cost of $30,000, under au- 
thority of Act of Congress of March 3, 1855. 

Arlington Cemetery, on the Virginia shore of the Potomac, 
opposite the City of Washington, occupies 200 acres of land, 
part of the original estate of eleven hundred acres belonging to 
Daniel Parke Custis, the first husband of Mrs. George Wash- 
ington. The estate was left by President Washington to his 
wife's grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, who on his 
death in 1857 left it to his daughter, Mrs. Robert E. Lee, for 
life and then to his grandsons Custis and Fitzhugh Lee. As it 
was never the property of General Lee the Government was un- 
able to confiscate it after the Civil War but purchased it in 1864 
at a tax sale for $23,000. In May, 1865, it was created the first 
of 82 national cemeteries. Later a suit was brought by George 
W. Lee, the oldest son of General Lee, which resulted in the 
annulment of the tax sale whereby the Government had acquired 
the property, and the Government thereupon purchased the tract 
for $150,000. 

Over 16,000 dead of the Civil War, as well as many of the 
victims of the Spanish-American War and other members of 
the military and naval establishments are buried at Arlington. 

On Georgia Avenue, formerly the 7th Street Pike, near the 
Walter Reed Hospital, is a small national cemetery where are 
buried a portion of the Union soldiers who were killed in the 
defense of the City of Washington against the troops of General 
Early in July, 1864. This cemetery is near the site of Fort 
Stevens where the fighting occurred. 

The system of public grounds and parks of the City of 
Washington is based upon the original plan of Major L 'Enfant. 
While many of the areas designated by him for specific purposes 
have been appropriated to other uses, nevertheless, the parking 
system of the original portions of the city is approximately as 
L 'Enfant laid it out. On L 'Enfant 's map was a list of so-called 



History of the City of Washington 463 

"references" indicating the purposes to which he intended the 
various parks to be appropriated. At approximately the present 
site of the Washington Monument L 'Enfant intended to place 
an equestrian statue of General Washington which had been 
authorized by Congress in 1783. At the site of Lincoln 
Square, he proposed to place "a historical column at a distance 
of a mile from the Capitol, the same to serve as a standard of 
distances throughout the country." At the foot of 7th Street, 
he proposed to place a monument to celebrate the rise of the 
American Navy. At the present site of the Patent Office he 
proposed to place a church for National purposes such as public 
prayer, thanksgivings and funeral orations and assigned to the 
especial use of no particular sect or denomination, but equally 
open to all. This church he intended also to be a proper shelter 
for such monuments as had been voted by the late Continental 
Congress "for those heroes who fell in the cause of liberty and 
for such others as might thereafter be decreed by the voice of a 
grateful nation." He proposed to place grand fountains with 
a constant spout of water to be obtained from local springs, one 
on a reservation on Pennsylvania Avenue between 20th and 
22nd Streets, west, another on New York Avenue between 12th 
and 13th Streets, another on Pennsylvania Avenue and 9th 
Street, another on New Jersey Avenue and G Street, southwest, 
and another on Maryland Avenue and 8th Street, northeast. 
Owing to changes made by Major Ellicott in L 'Enfant 's plans 
these areas do not correspond precisely with existing parks but 
were probably at or near the sites of the present Washington 
Circle, Franklin Park, Garfield Park and Green Park. At the 
foot of the Capitol terrace he proposed to place a grand cascade 
formed of water from the source of the Tiber. This purpose 
has been carried into effect by the establishment of the fountain 
now existing at that point. The grounds to the west of the 
Capitol, L 'Enfant designated as "a public walk through which 
carriages might ascend to the upper square of the Federal 
House." The. present Mall he designated as "a grand avenue 
400 feet in breadth and about a mile in length, bordered with 
gardens ending in a slope from the houses on each side." This 



464 History of the City of Washington 

avenue he intended to lead to the Monument of General Wash- 
ington and to connect "the Congress garden" with "the 
President's Park," and "a well improved field" which was to 
be "a part of the walk from the President's House of about 
1800 feet in breadth and three quarters of a mile in length." 
This latter is the present White House Lot, upon the east and 
west margins of which he designated in colors the situations 
which he considered ' ' commanded the most agreeable prospects ' ' 
and to be "the best calculated for the spacious houses and gar- 
dens such as might accommodate foreign ministers, etc." He 
also indicated a park around the space occupied by the Capitol, 
though not covering the entire area of the present Capitol Square 
and extending out East Capitol Street to Lincoln Park. In 
addition L 'Enfant indicated by coloring them in yellow, 15 
parks at the intersections of streets and avenues which he 
proposed to divide among the several States of the Union for 
each of them to improve, the centers of the squares to be orna- 
mented with statues, columns, obelisks or such other ornaments 
as the different States might choose to erect "to perpetuate not 
only the memory of such individuals whose councils or military 
achievements were conspicuous in giving liberty and independ- 
ence to this country, but also those whose usefulness hath 
rendered them worthy of general imitation to invite the youth 
of succeeding generations to tread in the paths of those sages 
or heroes whom their country has thought properly to cele- 
brate." Along the north edge of the Mall, he indicated in red, 
spots for the location of places of worship. A number of other 
squares or areas not designated, he indicated as suitable for 
colleges and academies "in which every society whose object 
is national may be accommodated. ' ' 

As related in Chapter V, these appropriations, except as 
to the grounds for the Capitol and President's House, were all 
stricken out on Major Ellicott's plan, and later, upon the prepa- 
ration of Dermott's "Tin Case Map," seventeen public 
appropriations were indicated which by proclamations signed 
by President Washington and President Adams were officially 
declared to be the public areas of the city. At the time the city 



History of the City of Washington 465 

was established much of these areas was covered with luxuriant 
growths of forests. This was particularly true of the space 
occupied by the Mall and President's grounds. The Commis- 
sioners who founded the city did little to protect these trees 
under the authority granted by the deeds of trust, and they 
were ruthlessly destroyed by the proprietors. This was a source 
of great regret and vexation to President Jefferson who regarded 
their destruction as little short of a calamity. 

The areas occupied by the Mall, from the Capitol to the 
Potomac River, the White House Park, and Lafayette Square 
were laid out as parks in 1852 under the plans of Andrew Jack- 
son Downing, a noted landscape architect of New York. 

It is evident from a review of the old city ordinances that 
even in its early days some system of parking adorned with 
trees was in existence. As early as March 25, 1803, a fine of $5 
was imposed upon any person wilfully injuring any of the 
street trees. On August 3, 1815, an ordinance was passed appro- 
priating $100 per annum out of the funds of the first and 
second wards for the purpose of keeping in order, tarring or 
replanting trees planted by the corporation in the public squares, 
streets and avenues within those wards. On May 26, 1820, an 
ordinance was passed granting permission to persons who desired 
to plant trees in any part of a street or avenue opposite their 
own grounds to enclose such part of the street or avenue as 
might be necessary for the purpose of protecting the trees so 
planted, not exceeding six feet, without the curb line. The trees 
so planted must not be more than 20 feet apart. 

The credit for the adoption of the present existing system 
of street parking belongs to the Board of Public Works under 
the Territorial Government, which took advantage of an Act 
of Congress approved April 6, 1870. This Act authorized the 
City of Washington to set apart as parks to be adorned with 
shade trees, walks, and enclosed with curbstones, not exceeding 
one-half the width of any and all avenues and streets in the 
city, leaving a roadway of not less than 35 feet in width in the 
center or two such roadways on each side of a park in the 
center of the same, the cost to be defrayed by special assess- 



466 History of the City of Washington 

ments upon the adjoining property. This measure was presented 
in the Senate by Senator Justin Morrill of Vermont acting on 
behalf of the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. In 
the course of the debate on this bill Senator Sherman of Ohio 
remarked that "the ordinary way now in the large cities of the 
West is to have the parking on either side and the roadway in 
the center ; that is the proper way. ' ' 

The original promoter of the movement which resulted in 
this legislation was Mayor Bowen who was moved to recommend 
such a system of parking by the inconvenience suffered by the 
residents of K Street especially between 12th and 16th Streets, 
northwest, resulting from the dust arising from the carriageway 
of that street. A broad parking of trees and shrubbery was 
contemplated as a protection to the residents from this dust. 
Under the authority of the act of Congress above mentioned, the 
City Councils authorized the improvement of K Street by the 
removal of the curbstones and gutters on both sides of the 
street and the placing of them twenty-five feet nearer the center, 
the intervening spaces between the old sidewalks and the relocated 
curbstones to be graded and converted into grass plots, orna- 
mented by shrubbery and a row of trees on each side. The 
prosecution of this work was entrusted to a commission and its 
execution was practically the sole work of Mr. Henry A. Willard, 
one of the members of this commission. This parking was after- 
wards removed by the Board of Public Works and an area of 
bituminous carriageway surface substantially as at present 
existing, was substituted. 

Shortly after coming into existence the Board of Public 
Works under the Territorial Government, along with its other 
projects for the development and improvement of the city, 
vigorously entered upon the task of establishing a comprehen- 
sive system of street parking. At its meeting on September 4, 
1871, the Board of Public Works appointed William Saunders, 
William R. Smith and John Saul, a commission to report to the 
Board what trees they would recommend to be planted and the 
best places to procure them. Mr. Smith was at the time and for 
many years thereafter continued to be Superintendent of the 



History of the City of Washington 467 

Botanical Gardens, Mr. Saunders was then and for many years 
after, the Superintendent of the grounds of the Department 
of Agriculture and Mr. Saul was a prominent local nurseryman. 
This commission continued as a purely voluntary body from 
the date of its authorization by 'the Board of Public Works 
throughout all of the succeeding forms of government until 
broken up by the deaths of its members about the beginning of 
the new century. On May 11, 1897, Rear Admiral James E. 
Jouett, U. S. N., was appointed by the District Commissioners 
to fill the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Saul's decease on January 
8, 1898. 

This commission was commonly known as the Parking 
Commission. It was created without authority of law and served 
without compensation, but it would be difficult to find an in- 
stance of public or altruistic service on behalf of any community 
surpassing in the degree of devotion to the trust accepted or in 
professional enthusiasm and skill that which was displayed 
by this commission throughout the period of its existence. To 
its efforts the nation is indebted for the system of street trees 
which is so prominent a feature of the Capital City. Nor would 
reference to this subject be complete without a recognition of 
the service rendered by Mr. Truman Lanham, who for 25 years 
has been the superintendent of Trees and Parkings. 

For many years a controversy existed between representa- 
tives of the local and national governments over the question of 
the jurisdiction over the sidewalk and other parking spaces in 
the city. This question was settled by Congress in an act 
approved July 1, 1898, wherein jurisdiction and control of the 
street parking in the streets and avenues of the District of 
Columbia was transferred to and vested in the Commissioners 
of the District of Columbia, and other parts of the park system 
of the District of Columbia were placed under control of the 
Chief of Engineers of the United States Army under such regu- 
lations as the President might prescribe through the Secretary 
of War. The act defined the park system as comprising all 
public spaces laid down as reservations on a map which accom- 
panied the annual report for 1894 of the (M'iin-r in Charge of 



468 History of the City of Washington 

Public Buildings and Grounds, together with all areas more 
than 250 feet square between sidewalk lines after the same 
should have been set aside by the Commissioners of the District 
of Columbia for park purposes. This act further authorized the 
Chief of Engineers of the Army to temporarily turn over to 
private owners of the adjoining lands, to be cared for by such 
owners under such regulations as he might prescribe, all the 
parking spaces in the streets set aside by the Commissioners for 
park purposes. 

With the incoming of the 20th century, the urgent need of 
additional public buildings as well as a tendency towards the 
construction of buildings of a semi public character made it 
apparent to the public as well as to the law-makers of the nation 
that the establishment of some definite plan for the location of 
such structures in the future was a matter of imperative neces- 
sity in order that harmonious relationships might be established 
between the various structures. This sentiment took definite 
shape during the course of the commemorative exercises held in 
celebration of the 100th anniversary of the removal of the 
seat of government to the District of Columbia. Throughout 
the numerous addresses of that occasion was expressed a pre- 
dominating sentiment favoring the improvement and develop- 
ment of the District of Columbia in a manner befitting it as the 
Capital of the American nation. 

By a fortunate co-incidence the American Institute of 
Architects was holding its session in the City of Washington 
at the time these centennial exercises were in progress and at 
this session the Institute engaged in an earnst discussion of the 
question of improving and developing the Capital City. A num- 
ber of prominent architects, sculptors and landscape architects 
of the country read papers advancing their ideas upon the 
different features involved in a scheme for the improvement of 
the District and in consequence of this discussion a committee 
on legislation was appointed to confer with the Committees of 
Congress on the District of Columbia relative to the adoption 
of definite measures looking to the carrying out of some com- 
prehensive scheme of public improvement. . 



History of the City of Washington 469 

Conferences between this committee and the Senate Com 
mittee on the District of Columbia resulted in a resolution 
adopted by the Senate on March 8, 1901, that the Committee on 
the District of Columbia be directed to consider the subject and 
report to the Senate plans for the development and improvement 
of the entire park system of the District of Columbia, and that 
for the purpose of preparing such plans the Committee might 
secure the services of such experts as should be found necessary 
for a proper consideration of the subject. On March 19, 1901, 
the sub-committee appointed to give immediate consideration to 
the purpose of this resolution met with the representatives of 
the American Institute of Architects and came to an agreement 
proposed by the latter to the effect that the services of a volun- 
tary expert commission to consist of Mr. Daniel H. Burnham, of 
Chicago, and Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., of Brookline, 
Massachusetts, be accepted by the Senate Committee, these gen- 
tlemen having authority to invite others to assist them in their 
work. The gentlemen named associated with themselves Mr. 
Charles F. McKim and Mr. Augustus St. Gaudens of New York 
City, to act with them in the preparation of plans. Mr. Burn- 
ham had been director of works at the World's Columbian 
Exposition held in Chicago in 1893. Mr. McKim was the archi- 
tect of the Boston Public Library, the Rhode Island Capitol 
Building, the new buildings and fences at Harvard University 
and other structures of monumental character, and was recog- 
nized as one of the leading American architects. Mr. St. 
Gaudens was recognized as the premier of American sculptors, 
from whose criticisms on art subjects it was universally con- 
sidered there could be no appeal. Mr. Olmsted was probably 
the most prominent landscape architect in the country, being 
the consulting landscape architect of the extensive system of 
parks and boulevards of the city of Boston and its suburbs as 
well as of other large parking areas in other cities. 

Commenting on the spirit with which these men undertook 
their task the report of the Senate Committee submitted by Mr. 
McMillan on January 15, 1902, says: 



470 History of the City of Washington 

"At the call of their professional brethren and at the 
request of this Committee, these men virtually put aside 
their large and profitable private work and for nearly a 
year devoted their time, their experience, and their tech- 
nical training to the service of the nation. These sacrifices 
they had made without pecuniary reward, and at a time 
in the professional careers of the majority of them when 
success and fame were already secured. Not only is the 
nation fortunate in having obtained the ripest talents of 
three such distinguished men, but also it is a matter for 
satisfaction that the fourth member of the Commission 
enters upon the work at an age when he may be expected 
to have a part in directing and shaping the development of 
the plans from the beginning to the end." 
Speaking of the recommendations made by this Commis- 
sion in its report of the Senate Committee, Senator McMillan 
continues : 

"The plans prepared by the Commission and submitted 
to the Senate with this report are the most comprehensive 
ever provided for the development of an American city. 
Every portion of the District of Columbia has been studied ; 
in the outlying sections those spaces best adapted for parks, 
both small and large, have been marked; the most conven- 
ient and the most picturesque connections between the 
various parks have been mapped; the individual treatment 
which each particular important park should undergo is 
recommended; an extension of the park system to Great 
Falls and to Mt. Vernon is discussed; the development of 
the Mall receives detailed and elaborate treatment; the 
location of new public buildings, whether legislative, exec- 
utive or municipal in character, has been arranged according 
to a rational system of grouping; and those memorials 
which mark great epochs or great crises in our national 
history have been brought into harmonious relations with 
the general scheme of development. 7 ' 

So thoroughly was the work of the Park Commission appre- 
ciated both by the public and by Congress that it was determined 
to create a similar body which should be of a permanent char- 
acter. This sentiment took definite shape in an Act of Congress 
approved May 17, 1910, creating the Commission of Fine Arts. 
This Commission was to consist of seven well qualified judges 
of fine arts to be appointed by the President and to serve four 



History of the City of Washington 471 

years each. The Act provided that it should be the duty of such 
Commission to advise upon the location of statues, fountains 
and monuments in the public squares, streets and parks in the 
District of Columbia, and upon the selection of models for 
statues, fountains and monuments erected under the authority 
of the United States, and upon the selection of artists for the 
execution of the same. The Act required all officers charged 
by law to determine such questions to call upon the Commission 
for its advice, the only exceptions being in connection with the 
Capitol Building and the Library of Congress. The Commission 
was also required to advise generally upon questions of art 
when called upon to do so by the President or any Committee 
of either house of Congress. The members of the Commission 
were expected to serve gratuitously but their expenses in 
attending meetings at "Washington were to be defrayed by 
Congress. 

Under commissions dated June 15, 1910, President Taft 
appointed as members of the Commission of Fine Arts, Daniel 
H. Burnham, of Illinois, Frederick Law Olmsted of Massachu- 
setts, Thomas Hastings, of New York, Daniel Chester French, 
of New York, Francis D. Millet, of New York, Cass Gilbert, of 
New York, and Charles Moore, of Michigan. Mr. Moore was 
for many years clerk of the Committee on the District of Colum- 
bia of the House of Representatives in which position he had, 
through his intense enthusiasm and untiring interest, rendered 
services of incalculable value to the National Capital. His 
influence had always been strong with members of Congress in 
favor of the development of the District upon a noble scale, 
and his appointment upon the Commission of Fine Arts was a 
fitting recognition not only of past services but of his pre- 
eminent qualifications to pass upon subjects relating to the 
beautification of the nation's capital. 

The Commission of Fine Arts took charge of the plans, 
drawings, designs and photographs which had been prepared 
by the Park Commission in 1901. On October 25, 1910, President 
Taft issued an order to the effect that no plans for any public 
building to be erected in the District of Columbia for the Gen- 



472 History of the City of Washington 

eral Government should thereafter be approved by the office 
in charge thereof until submitted to the Commission of Fine 
Arts for its comment and advice. 

Mr. Burnham was appointed Chairman of the Commission 
and at its first meeting Mr. Millet was elected Vice-Chairman. 
Upon Mr. Millet fell the greater part of the task of organizing 
the work of the Commission. On returning from a visit of 
inspection of the American Academy in Rome, Mr. Millet 
perished in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912. Mr. Burnham 
died in Heidelberg, Germany, on June 1, 1912. Edwin H. 
Blashfield of New York, was appointed by President Taft on 
May 31, 1912, to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Millet's death 
and Mr. Peirce Anderson of Illinois was appointed on July 5, 
1912, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Burnham. 

The availability of Rock Creek Valley as the site for a park 
was officially noticed as early as 1866 by Major N. Michler, of 
the Corps of Engineers to whom had been referred a resolution 
of the Senate providing for the selection of a site for a public 
park and a presidential mansion. 

Major Michler brought the matter to the attention of a 
number of prominent citizens of Washington, among them Ad- 
miral Lee, and Mr. W. W. Corcoran, but notwithstanding that 
considerable interest was shown in the project, no definite action 
was taken toward the acquisition of the necessary land at that 
time. In 1883, Captain Richard L. Hoxie, then Assistant to the 
Engineer Commissioner of the District, recommended the estab- 
lishment of a park embracing the entire Rock Creek Valley 
within the District of Columbia, including the hilly country as 
far west as Tenleytown, and as far east as Rock Creek Church 
Road, an area of approximately 8,000 acres. Captain Hoxie 
as a detail of his plan, proposed the construction of a dam just 
above Georgetown of such height as to back the water up the 
creek for a distance of four miles in order to secure an added 
water supply for the city. 

To the efforts of Mr. Charles C. Glover is due the credit for 
the first definite action taken toward the establishment of the 
park. As the result of his indefatigable exertions Congress by an 



History of the City of Washington 473 

Act approved September 27, 1890, authorized the acquisition of a 
tract of land upon both sides of Rock Creek beginning at Klingle 
Ford Bridge and running northwardly following the course of 
the creek, of a width not less at any point than 600 feet nor 
more than 1200 feet, including the bed of the creek, of which not 
less than 200 feet should be on either side of the creek south of 
Broad Branch Road and Blagdon Mill Road, and of such greater 
width north of those roads as the Commissioners designated by 
the Act for carrying it into effect, might select. 

The area of the territory to be so acquired was limited to 
2,000 acres and the cost confined to $1,200,000. For the purpose 
of acquiring this ground the Act created a Commission to 
consist of the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army, 
the Engineer Commissioner of the District of Columbia, and 
three citizens to be appointed by the President. One-half the 
cost was to be appropriated from the Treasury and one-half from 
the revenues of the District of Columbia. The Act authorized 
the Commission in the event it should be unable to purchase 
the necessary land at reasonable prices, to institute condemna- 
tion proceedings and further directed that such real estate within 
the District as the Commission should find to be directly bene- 
fitted by reason of the location of the park should be assessed 
to the extent of its benefits received therefrom to pay the cost 
of the land. 

On March 11, 1892, a map setting out the tracts which the 
Commission proposed to include within the park was prepared 
and the money therefor drawn from the Treasury and paid into 
the Registry of the Court for the benefit of the owners, where- 
upon under virtue of the Act authorizing the creation of the 
Commission, by its Executive Officer, it formally took possession 
of the land. On December 13, 1894, the park was turned over 
by the Commission to the Board of Control created by the 
original Act. This Board consisted of the Commissioners of the 
District of Columbia and the Chief of Engineers of the Army. 
The territory acquired contained 1,605.9 acres and the cost of 
its acquisition including the incidental expenses was $1,174,- 
511.45. 



474 History of the City of Washington 

After the acquisition of the land the Commission held a 
number of meetings for the purpose of determining upon the 
assessments against adjoining property to pay for the park, 
and made a test case of the Van Riswick property. Mr. T. A. 
Lambert, representing the property owners, obtained from Judge 
Cox of the Supreme Court of the District an injunction against 
the assessment of benefits against this property and this decision 
was upheld by the Court of Appeals of the District but reversed 
in the Supreme Court of the United States. The Commission 
then renewed its hearings for the taking of testimony but after 
thorough consideration, concluded that the testimony did not 
show that there was any appreciable increase in the value of the 
surrounding property resulting from the establishment of the 
park and so reported to the Supreme Court of the District of 
Columbia. 

In 1904 Mr. Charles C. Glover offered to dedicate an addi- 
tional strip of ground along the east side of Rock Creek between 
Massachusetts Avenue and Connecticut Avenue Bridge, and this 
offer was accepted by a clause in the appropriation act for the 
fiscal year 1904, authorizing the Board of Control of Rock Creek 
Park to accept the dedication of land for the purpose of adding 
to that park. The dedication of this strip leaves only a small 
space of about fifty feet in the entire stretch from Massachusetts 
Avenue to the north end of Rock Creek Park on the east side of 
the creek which is not owned by the government. 

By Act approved February 27, 1907, Congress authorized 
a parkway approach averaging 400 feet wide, to the Rock Creek 
Park from 16th Street down the valley of Piney Branch, and 
Congress is now being asked to authorize the further acquisition 
of the valley of the Klingle Road from Rock Creek Park to the 
junction of Klingle and Woodley Roads, comprising 28 y 2 acres, 
as well as land necessary to extend Rock Creek Drive and Lovers' 
Lane from Montrose Park north of Georgetown to the proposed 
Klingle Valley Park, thus giving a continuous driveway from 
Montrose Park to Rock Creek Park of. about two miles in length. 
It is proposed also to extend the Piney Branch Driveway from 
16th Street to Georgia Avenue, giving a connection between 



History of the City of Washington 475 

Rock Creek Park and the Soldiers' Home Grounds. In the 15 
years following the acquisition of this park $223,333.98 have 
been expended in its improvement, making the total cost to date, 
$1,397,845.43. 

On April 30, 1908, the District Commissioners submitted to 
Congress a report recommending the improvement of Rock 
Creek Valley from the Zoological Park to the mouth of the 
creek, by the open valley method as recommended by the Park 
Commission in 1901. This report, coming to the attention of 
Senator Wetmore, of Rhode Island, the latter requested the 
Commissioners to prepare a map of the lands required for carry- 
ing out the proposed improvement, and upon the preparation of 
this map by the Engineer's office, Senator Wetmore introduced 
a bill which was enacted in the public buildings act of March 4, 
1913, and provided that for the purpose of preventing the pol- 
lution and obstruction of Rock Creek and of connecting Potomac 
Park with the Zoological Park and Rock Creek Park, a com- 
mission composed of the Secretaries of the Treasury and of War 
and Agriculture, should acquire by purchase, condemnation or 
otherwise, the land on both sides of the Creek included within 
the lines on the map so prepared and authorized the expenditure 
for this purpose of $1,300,000. 

The public buildings act of June 25, 1910, authorized the 
Secretary of the Interior to acquire by purchase or condemna- 
tion the ground included between Euclid Street, Columbia 
Avenue or 15th Street, W Street or Florida Avenue, and 16th 
Street extended, containing approximately 437,000 square feet 
and appropriated the sum of $490,000 for this purpose, one-half 
of which was to be contributed out of the revenues of the District 
and be repaid in four annual instalments with interest at 3%. 
The same act authorized the Commissioners to purchase or con- 
demn the tract of land known as Montrose lying immediately 
north of Road or R Street and east of Lovers' Lane on George- 
town Heights, containing 16 acres, at an expense of not over 
$150,000. Both of these parks were acquired by the Commis- 
sioners, that on Meridian Hill at the full amount appropriated 
and Montrose Park at the cost of $110,000. 



476 History of the City of Washington 

From 1898 until 1905 Mr. William P. Richards was employ- 
ed in laying out, grading and macadamizing new roads, building 
bridges, culverts, fords, etc., in Rock Creek Park. The main 
work in road construction was the grading of a road along the 
Creek from its northern to its southern boundary and now 
known as "Beach Driveway," in honor of Commissioner Lans- 
ing H. Beach, who began, and during his entire term of office, 
took an especial interest in the designing and development of 
the improvements of the Park, including the celebrated "Boul- 
der Bridge." 

The general appropriation act for the District of Columbia 
approved June 26, 1912, provided for the acquisition of the 
ground necessary to preserve the sites of Ft. Davis and Ft. 
Dupont for park purposes, and for providing a highway between 
them by widening Alabama Avenue to 150 feet, the entire area 
thus taken comprising 4134 acres of land. This act required that 
not less than one-third and all in excess of $21,334 should be 
assessed as benefits against the adjoining property. By the 
same act the Secretary of War was directed to investigate and 
report on the question of the present water supply in the District 
of Columbia and the sufficiency of its source at Great Falls, to 
supply the future needs of the United States and of the District 
of Columbia, and also the availability of the water power at 
Great Falls or vicinity on the Potomac River, or between the 
Great Falls and the District of Columbia for the purpose of 
supplying light and power for the use of the United States and 
of the government of the District of Columbia. 

The Zoological Park originated in the custom of the Smith- 
sonian Institution of obtaining living animals for purposes of 
study of taxidermists engaged in the preparation of skins and 
skeletons for mounting. These animals, owing to the absence 
of adequate arrangements for keeping them, were either killed 
for their skins or if not desired as specimens were sent to the 
Zoological Gardens at Philadelphia. During the eighties, Mr. 
William T. Hornaday, the taxidermist of the National Museum, 
noted both for his skill in his profession and for the results of 
his travels in Borneo and South America, conceived the idea of 



History of the City of Washington 477 

retaining these living animals with the idea of accumulating a 
collection of them for public exhibition. At Mr. Hornaday's 
suggestion a separate department of the National Museum — 
that of living animals — was created, and Mr. Hornaday was 
appointed curator of this department. As the result of his 
activities, the Museum owned in 1887 and 1888 about 220 living 
specimens. 

The rapid extermination of many forms of wild animal life 
aroused a general interest in the subject of the preservation 
of specimens of these animals to posterity. To Mr. S. P. Langley, 
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, occurred the idea of 
establishing a Zoological Park in which to preserve specimens 
of wild animals for the double purpose of diffusing zoological 
knowledge and preserving the various species from extinction. 

Mr. Langley 's idea was to place the animals in surround- 
ings as near as possible like those to which they were accustomed 
in their wild state. This idea was at the time a novel one and 
had not been adopted in the zoological collections of Europe, 
owing to lack of space in those crowded cities where such collec- 
tions existed. Secretary Langley saw the possibilities for such a 
park which were to be found in the valley of Rock Creek and 
he solicited the cooperation of numerous public spirited and 
official gentlemen in the promotion of his project to convert a 
portion of this valley into a zoological park. Among those who 
evinced an active interest were Senator Beck of Kentucky and 
Senator Morrow of Vermont. Senator Beck introduced a bill 
in Congress on April 23, 1888, providing for a commission to 
be composed of the Secretary of the Interior, the President of 
the Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and the 
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to locate and purchase 
land for a park which should be turned over to the Regents of 
the Smithsonian Institution, after being so acquired. This bill 
failed of passage but the following year Senator Edmunds intro- 
duced a similar bill as an amendment to the District of Columbia 
appropriation bill, carrying an appropriation of $200,000. This 
bill was passed and was approved March 2, 1889. The Com- 
mission provided for in the act selected approximately 166 acres 



478 History of the City of Washington 

of land and after overcoming some difficulties in re-establishing 
the lines of the owners of the property needed, owing to the 
obliteration of old land marks, completed the survey on Novem- 
ber 21, 1889, and completed the acquisition of the site on 
November 4, 1890. An Act of Congress approved April 30, 
1890, placed the National Zoological Park under the direction 
of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Frank 
Baker was appointed Superintendent, and under- Dr. Baker 
and the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution the work of 
developing and improving the land which had been purchased 
was begun. The amount originally available for this purpose 
was $100,000. The services of Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted were 
obtained for the purpose of devising the general plan of im- 
provement and after a number of visits Mr. Olmsted outlined 
plans for developing the park which have in the main been 
followed so far as the funds at the disposal of the Regents have 
permitted. 

The park has been very popular with the people of Wash- 
ington. During the first decade of its existence, attendance as 
high as 10,000 in a day were frequent, but these numbers were 
greatly exceeded in the following decade, and on Easter Monday, 
April 13, 1914, the attendance was slightly under 57,000. The 
advantage of this establishment over similar establishments in 
Europe lie not alone in the natural beauties of its location, 
including Rock Creek and the cliffs and forests of its valley, but 
also in its extent. This park includes 166.48 acres. The Jardin 
des Plants at Paris in which is located the Paris Zoological 
Gardens, includes 17 acres, the Gardens of the Zoological Society 
of London includes 36 acres, and the Berlin Zoological Garden, 
63 acres. 

Following the close of the Civil War, or even earlier, the 
problem of disposing of the rapidly accumulating silt in the 
Potomac River opposite Washington became a serious one. 
Between 1870 and 1881, $290,000 was spent in dredging chan- 
nels 16 feet deep and 200 feet wide through the Georgetown and 
Washington channels and in removing a number of dangerous 
rocks which obstructed the harbor at Georgetown. 



History of the City of Washington 479 

In connection with the problem of keeping the channels 
open was that of dealing with the extensive flats reaching from 
the bend of the river at Easby's Point to the forks of the channel 
opposite the mouth of the Eastern Branch. Under the River 
and Harbor Act of March 3, 1881, and a resolution of the Senate 
of December 13, 1881, the Board of Engineers of the Army 
investigated and reported upon a plan called for by Congress, 
having for its object the widening and deepening of the channels 
of the Potomac; the reclamation of the flats by depositing on 
them the material dredged from the channels ; the freeing of the 
Washington channel of sewage, and the establishment of harbor 
lines. The flats were to be reclaimed to a height of three feet 
above the flood plane of 1877, which, although the highest 
freshet of record to that time, was exceeded by about three feet 
by the flood of 1889. The engineer's report provided for a 
tidal reservoir with automatic inlet and outlet gates to insure 
the flushing of the Washington channel with each tide. In 
1890 a training dike on the Virginia shore was made a part of 
the project. 

The work reached a point during the early nineties where 
the retaining wall around the vast area of the Potomac flats 
had been constructed and the area reclaimed and planted with a 
fringe of willows. 

By Act of March 3, 1897, Congress declared this area to be 
a public park under the name of "Potomac Park." About 19,- 
000,000 cubic yards were dredged from the river and deposited 
on the flats. The area reclaimed is 628 acres exclusive of that of 
the tidal reservoir of 111 acres. The office of public buildings 
and grounds has done a considerable amount of improvement 
on the Potomac Park, particularly in the laying out of a drive 
along the river bank. 

The improvement of the Anacostia River commenced with 
the authorization in 1890 of the dredging of a. channel 20 feet 
deep and 200 feet wide near the mouth of that stream. Tn 1902 
Congress authorized the improvement of the portion below the 
Navy Yard Bridge by a channel 400 feet wide and 20 feet deep 
at the center. The dredged material was deposited behind a 



480 History of the City of Washington 

stone bulkhead to a height of seven feet above low tide and the 
reclaimed area is to be surrounded by an earthen embankment 
fourteen feet above low tide. This work has resulted in the 
reclamation of about 160 acres. By the District appropriation 
act of June 26, 1912, Congress appropriated $100,000 for con- 
tinuing the reclamation and development of the Anacostia River 
and Flats from the Anacostia Bridge to the District line, this 
sum to be expended under the supervision of the Chief of 
Engineers of the Army upon plans to be approved by a board 
to consist of the Engineer Commissioner of the District, the 
engineer officer in charge of the improvement of the Potomac 
River and the officer in charge of public buildings and grounds. 
Two similar appropriations have since been made. It is pro- 
posed to reclaim the entire extent of the Anacostia flats much 
along the line suggested by the Park Commission in 1901. 



CHAPTER XIII 



Art, Literature, Music and the Drama 

The first public buildings erected in "Washington were 
structures of beauty instead of mere rude habitations such as 
those with which infant cities usually begin. Although these 
palaces in the woods, separated by great distances, were themes 
for the jest of the short-sighted, yet their majestic proportions 
rising from their sylvan surroundings must have had an inspir- 
ing and prophetic effect upon the appreciative. The White 
House, the Patent Office, the Treasury Building, and the Capitol, 
follow closely the old Grecian principles, and are worthy of 
the great Republic whose government they represent. The other 
government buildings present varying degrees of merit and 
mediocrity. 

In 1816 David Baillie Warden tells that "Mr. Boyle, a 
painter from Baltimore, collects objects of natural history, to 
form a museum in a building near the center of the city, which 
was formerly occupied as a study by Stewart, the celebrated 
portrait painter. ' ' 

In 1845 William Q. Force tells of King's Art Gallery. Mr. 
Charles King was an artist living in Washington at that time, 
having his studio and exhibition building on Twelfth between 
E and F Streets. Mr. Force also recounts that there were in 
Washington at that time several other portrait and landscape 
painters, and that the capital city had become somewhat of an 
art center. 

A National Gallery of Art was early advocated but was 
many years being provided for. When the National Institute 
was formed one of its provisions was for the advancement of 
literature and art, although science received the Institute's 
greatest attention. 



482 History of the City of Washington 

In April, 1841, the Institute was given space in the new 
Patent Office building, and with the scientific collection began 
one of art, meager at first but by 1845 large enough to be 
constituted the germ of a National collection. 

When the Smithsonian Institution was established in 1846, 
the small collection of art pieces was transferred with the 
scientific collection to its management. One of the provisions 
in the Smithson will required that a fine art collection be part 
of the effort of the Institution, and the Committee in its report 
in 1847, suggested the buying of paintings and sculpture for a 
more extensive exhibit, besides engravings and architectural 
designs. 

The first important collection purchased was the collection 
of Indian portraits of Mr. George Catlin. These portraits were 
taken from life and had been exhibited quite extensively in 
Europe and America, The whole collection comprised over six 
hundred pictures, and besides portraits contained landscapes 
and scenes showing sports, religious ceremonies and other cus- 
toms of the Indians, making it a valuable historical as well 
as artistic collection. The purchase of plaster casts of some 
of the classic statues of Europe was also authorized about this 
time. 

In 1849 the Institution purchased the collection of George 
Perkins Marsh, comprising many fine engravings and etchings, 
there being several hundred portfolios altogether, in bound 
volumes and loose. 

This acquisition cost the Government $3,000, and was pro- 
nounced the choicest collection of its kind in America. Among 
these engravings and etchings were many from celebrated 
artists, such as Rembrandt, Diirer, Lorraine, Hollar, Leonardo, 
and others equally celebrated. 

Another Indian collection was sent to the Institution in 
1852, by J. M. Stanley comprising one hundred fifty-two can- 
vases. 

The main section of the Smithsonian building was com- 
pleted in 1855. The upper story was divided into three rooms, 
the western of which was devoted to art purposes and known 



History of the City of Washington 483 

as the National Gallery of Art. Here the collection furnished 
pleasure and instruction to visitors and students and grew 
slowly until January 24, 1865, when a disastrous fire destroyed 
the entire art collection except a few pieces that had been placed 
on the main floor of the building and were saved. 

After this catastrophe the National art possessions were 
temporarily placed with the Library of Congress and the Cor- 
coran Gallery of Art, and for years it appeared that there was 
no National Gallery. 

In 1903, at the death of Harriet Lane Johnston, the niece 
of President Buchanan, who was mistress of the White House 
while he was President, it was found that she had bequeathed 
her art collection to the Government, when it should establish 
a National Gallery. After the decision of the courts that the 
United States already had a National Art Gallery connected 
with the Smithsonian Institution, the bequest was made over 
to the Government in 1906. 

In 1904 another great art gift came to the Government by 
the generosity of Charles L. Freer, of Detroit, Michigan, then / 
consisting of 2,250 pieces, and added to since by the donor. 

Less than a year later William T. Evans of New York 

gave to the United States fifty paintings by American artists, / 
which has since been increased to double that number. 

The Harriet Lane Johnston collection, after being turned 
over to the Smithsonian Institution August 3, 1906, was housed 
in the reception room and office of the Secretary of the Institu- 
tion building, and remained there until November 20, when it 
was transferred to thetemporary gallery fitted up in the Nation- 
al Museum building. This collection now occupies a room, « 

where all the pieces can be seen to advantage. Among tbese is 
a beautiful miniature of President Buchanan, by John Henry 
Brown ; a portrait of the Prince of Wales, presented to Mr. 
Buchanan by the Prince himself March 29, 1862; a portrait of 
Mrs. Abington by John Hoppner; one of Sir Thomas Lawrence's 
portraits, that of Lady Essex; Madonna and Child by Luini ; 
Sir Joshua Reynolds' portrait of Mrs. Hammond; George Rom- 
ney's portrait of Miss Kirkpatrick; a marble bust of .lames 



484 History of the City of Washington 

Buchanan ; another of Harriet Lane Johnston 's husband, Henry- 
Elliot Johnston, by Rinehart ; a marble cupid by the same artist 
of the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston, Henry E., Jr.; a 
beautiful bust of the donor herself; and other beautiful and 
interesting pieces as well as several objects of historic interest. 

When the Evans donation was accepted by the Government 
the Smithsonian had no suitable place for it, so gladly accepted 
the tender of the atrium of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. 

Early in July, 1909, the collection was transferred to the 
gallery fitted up in the National Museum building, and Mr. 
Evans has since added other paintings. Some of the gems are: 
The Black Orchid by Frederick Stuart Church; High Cliff, 
Coast of Maine, Winslow Homer; September Afternoon, George 
Innis ; My Bay Home, William Henry Howe ; Visit of Nicodemus 
to Christ, John LaFarge; An Interlude, William Sergeant 
Kendall ; A Family of Birches, Willard Leroy Metcalf ; The Boy 
With the Arrow, Douglas Volk; Eros et Musa, by Henry Oliver 
Walker; and a portrait of the collector and donor, by Alphonse 
Jongers. 

The National Gallery of Art has other acquisitions also, 
some of which are: Aurora Borealis, by Frederic Edwin 
Church; Crossing the Ferry, by Adrian Moreau; Indian Sum- 
mer Bay, by Max Weyl; Portrait of Mrs. Price, by William 
Hogarth; Sir Sampson Wright, by George Romney; Mrs. 
Towry, by Sir Thomas Lawrence; Duchess of Ancestor, by Sir 
Joshua Reynolds; Mrs. Rouse, by Sir Peter Lely, lent by Dr. 
Thomas M. Chartard, and others of equal note. 

A valuable historical collection of canvases hanging in this 
gallery are the paintings of Edward Moran, depicting scenes 
from the history of America, from the Landing of Lief Erickson 
in 1001, to the War with Spain during closing years of the 
Nineteenth Century. "The Ocean — The Highway of All Na- 
tions," leads the list and is a most beautiful representation of 
the sea. There are twelve scenes familiar to all Americans, 
including "The Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta," standing out 
in an evening glow; "The Debarcation of Columbus," showing 
morning light ; ' ' First Recognition of the American Flag ; ' ' 



History of the City of Washington 485 

"Iron Versus Wood Sinking of the Cumberland by the 

Merrimac ; ' ' and others as inspiring, as spirited and as beautiful. 

The most elaborate art gallery in Washington and that best 
known, is the Corcoran Gallery of Art. This great public educa- 
tional institution was the gift of William Wilson Corcoran of 
Georgetown, in the form of the old building and grounds at 
17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, an endowment of $900,- 
000, and a private art collection valued at $100,000. The 
building has been mentioned in the chapter on Public Buildings 
and Grounds. ; 

Since the original collection of Mr. Corcoran and the first 
installation of purchases, many pictures have been added. Some 
of the pictures that attract most attention are: a portrait of 
Mr. Corcoran by Charles Loring Elliott, painted in 1867 ; 
Church 's Niagara Falls ; George de Forrest Brush 's Mother and 
Child; Sunset in the Woods by George Inness; A Light on the 
Sea, by Winslow Homer; Woodgatherers by Corot; Charlotte 
Corday, by Muller ; The Open Fire, by Robert Reed ; The Help- 
ing Hand, by Emile Renouf ; a Bull, by Rosa Bonheur; Wash- 
ington Before Yorktown, by Rembrandt Peale; Caesar Dead, by 
Gerome, one of the pictures of the original purchase by Mr. 
W. T. Walters in 1873 ; Pope Julius II before the Apollo Belve- 
dere, by Becker; Gilbert Stuart's Washington; Lenbach's Bis- 
marck; Sully's full-length portrait of Andrew Jackson; the row 
of the Presidents of the United States; Benjamin West's Cupid 
and Psyche; My Daughter, by Frank W. Benson. 

The Barye collection of bronzes is an important possession 
of the gallery. The entire collection was acquired in 1873 by 
Mr. Walters while in Paris on his mission of selecting art works 
for the Corcoran Gallery of Art. 

The growth of art in Washington has not been alone in its 
art galleries. Public buildings have had a large share in adding 
to the growth and in bringing artists to the Capital. For years 
the Capitol was a center for artists, and in this great building 
are some of the art treasures of the Country. 

As we enter the rotunda we are attracted by the great 
Rogers bronze doors, the work of Randolph Rogers, an American 



486 History of the City of Washington 

sculptor who designed and modeled them in 1858, in Rome. 
They were cast two years later in Munich by F. von Miller. 
They were brought to America while the war was in progress 
and remained some time unused, but were placed in their pres- 
ent position at the eastern front of the building, in 1863. 

The arched setting of the doors is appropriate and the deep 
frame into which the doors fit when opened, is ornamented with 
symbols of the discoverer they commemorate. The lunette at 
the top is the largest of the bas-reliefs and represents the land- 
ing of Columbus upon the newly found world. Under this, on 
the eight panels of the doors, are other scenes from the life of 
the discoverer. These are : Columbus Bofore the Council at 
Salamanca ; Columbus at La Rabida Convent, where he received 
hospitality; Columbus at the Spanish Court receiving his com- 
mission; Columbus departing from Palos on his first voyage; 
His encounter with the Indians; His Triumphant Return to 
Barcelona; His arrival after the third journey in chains; and 
lastly, His Death. 

Stepping into the rotunda, and under the lofty dome, 
which is one of the greatest architectural achievements, in the 
world, more of the Country's history is told in the large paint- 
ings on the walls. Four of those are the famous Trumbull 
pictures, painted by Colonel John Trumbull after the American 
Revolution. 

High above these pictures is a historical frieze of fresco, 
(chiaro-oscuro), a work begun by Constantino Brumidi in 1878, 
representing events in the history of the country. His death 
in 1880 stopped the work, which was taken up later by his 
pupil, Castigini, but was never finished by him. A portion of 
it is still incomplete. 

In the canopy of the dome, is the crowning decoration, the 
Apothesis of Washington, a very difficult, ambitious and well- 
executed piece of work that took years for completion and cost 
$50,000. In this concave surface of sixty-five feet diameter, the 
artist (Brumidi) has placed Washington as the central figure, 
with Liberty at his right hand and Victory at his left. The 
thirteen original States are represented by thirteen women, 



History of the City of Washington 487 

completing the ring from each side of Washington, a ribbon 
floating between them, on which are the words, "E Pluribus 
Unum." Another circle of figures around and under these 
contains the mythological symbolic representations of Liberty, 
with drawn sword and driving out, with the eagle at her left, 
Tyranny or Royalty; Minerva, teaching the arts and sciences; 
Ceres, goddess of the Harvest ; Vulcan, the Olympian mechanic ; 
Neptune, the god of Ocean with his trident; and Mercury, the 
spirited messenger of the gods. 

Other decorations of Brumidi's in the Capitol, executed 
during the more than twenty years of his work there, are the 
decorations of the President's room; Cornwallis Suing for the 
Cessation of Hostilities, in the hall of the House of Represen- 
tatives; decorations in the room of the House Post-office and 
Post Roads Committee; decorations in the Senate Committee 
Room of Appropriations; and those in the room of the Senate 
Committee on the District of Columbia. 

As the Government has spent more than $150,000 on art in 
the interior of the Capitol, there is painting, sculpture, carving, 
fresco to be seen in all directions. The Battle of Lake Erie, by 
W. H. Powell, hangs above a staircase landing in the Senate 
wing of the building and represents Oliver H. Perry just before 
leaving the flagship Lawrence. On the wall opposite this picture, 
but higher, is The Recall of Columbus, by A. G. Heaton, bought 
by the Government in 1884. 

Above another stairway landing in this wing is the Battle 
of Chapaultepec, by James Walker, representing a scene in that 
battle. 

The President's room in the Senate wing is the most elabor- 
ately decorated of any room in the building, the work being, 
as before stated, by Brumidi. 

The Vice-President's room is also beautifully decorated 
and in it hangs Charles Wilson Peale's Washington, said by 
some to be the best portrait of the First President in existence. 

The bronze doors of the Senate wing were designed by 
Crawford and the plaster cast made in this country. The work 
was done in Chicopee, Massachusetts, by James T. Ames, in 1868. 



488 History of the City of Washington 

The two well known paintings by Thomas Moran, of the 
Grand Canon of the Yellowstone and a Chasm of the Colorado, 
are much admired by visitors. 

The Electoral Commission, by Cornelia Adele Fassett, is an 
interesting portrait picture, painted from the commissioners 
in 1877-1878. ; It portrays the presentation of the Florida Case, 
as it was known, by fifteen committeemen, five of whom were 
members of the Supreme Court, five of the Senate and five of 
the House of Representatives, to decide the validity of the 
electoral votes of Florida, Louisiana, Oregon and South Carolina. 

Opposite this hangs a very different picture, showing the 
fight between the monitor and the Merrimac in Hampton Roads, 

Statues and busts are scattered about, notably that of John 
Hancock, first signer of the Declaration of Independence and 
Benjamin Franklin, by Powers; busts of numerous presidents, 
statesmen, etc., all worthy of note. Other notable portraits in 
the Senate wing are Gilbert Stuart's Washington; John Adams, 
copied by Andrews from the original of Stuart; Sully's Thomas 
Jefferson; Matthews' Patrick Henry; and H. F. Darby's Daniel 
Webster, Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun. 

One of the best portraits m the building hangs in the 
Supreme Court room and is that of the first Chief -Justice of the 
United States, John Jay, in his old-fashioned gown. The picture 
is a copy by Gray of Gilbert Stuart 's original. 

There are two interesting mosaics of the martyr Presidents, 
Lincoln and Garfield, made by Salviati, of Florence, Italy, who 
presented the portraits to the United States Government. 

The south wing, that of the House of Representatives, has its 
art treasures also. Here are frescoes, oil-paintings, sculpture and 
carving. Many portraits of members have been given prominent 
space, and some splendid large paintings are to be seen. Of 
these, "Westward the Course of Empire takes its Way," by 
the German artist Emanuel Leutz, is a striking scene of early 
Western emigrants. 

On another staircase landing is the ' ' Signing of the Procla- 
mation of Emancipation, ' ' by Frank Carpenter. The history of 
this picture is very interesting, as Mr. Carpenter spent the 



History of the City of Washington 489 

months of its execution in the White House, where he had free 
access to the President and studied him in all moods, attitudes, 
expressions, etc. In telling of this experience the artist said: "I 
intently studied every line and shade of expression in that 
furrowed face. In repose, it was the saddest face I ever knew." 

The completed painting was pronounced by President Lin- 
coln "as good as can be made," and was afterward bought 
for $25,000, by Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson, who presented it to 
Congress. 

A marble statue of Thomas Jefferson by Powers, is in this 
wing, a companion to the Franklin in the Senate wing and cost 
$10,000, as did also Franklin. 

The famous full-length painting of Washington by Vander- 
lyn is on one side of the Speaker's chair in the Hall of Repre- 
sentatives, and that of Lafayette, presented to the United States 
by Lafayette during his last visit to this country, on the other 
side. 

The old Hall of Representatives, used by the House from 
1807 to 1857, excepting for the period just succeeding the burn- 
ing of the Capitol by the British, is now used as a Hall of 
Statuary. It was set apart by act of Congress for this purpose 
in July, 1864. Here each State is allowed the privilege of plac- 
ing two monuments, the selections to be the choice of the States. 

Novelists, poets, philosophers, geographers, geologists, 
zoologists, botanists, astronomers, mathematicians, scientists of 
every description, tacticians, financiers, sociologists, metaphysi- 
cians, religionists, journalists and historians, whom it would be 
almost impossible to name, have written in Washington; and 
among the scientists and historians especially are to be num- 
bered many of the country's greatest names. 

One of the earliest books printed in Washington was Sam- 
uel Blodget's "Thoughts on the Increasing Wealth and National 
Economy of the United States." This is believed to be the 
first book on economics written in America. 

Histories of Washington have been written from time to 
time since a few years after its beginning. The earliest of these 
known was written by Tobias Lear, who wrote in 1793, "Obser- 



490 History of the City of Washington 

vations on the River Potoinack, the County Adjacent and the 
City of Washington. ' ' 

In 1816, David B. Warden wrote a "Description of the 
District of Columbia." This comprehensive little volume was 
written while he was consulate in Paris, France, and published 
in that city. Europeans, curious about the new Federal City, 
read the book with interest, and America gave it a warm wel- 
come. The writer gave a history of the foundation of the city, 
its early settlement and later growth. 

In 1822, a directory of Washington was published by Judah 
Delano, which contained an alphabetical list of names of Wash- 
ington residents, the members of Congress, with their residences. 

Jonathan Elliot, in 1830, published a little history of "The 
Ten Mile Square," and it, like its predecessor by Warden, has 
been a mine for local historians ever since. 

Besides "The Ten Mile Square," Jonathan Elliot served 
his own and future time well by compiling numerous volumes 
on political and economic science. 

"A Picture of Washington," by George Watterston was 
published in 1841 and the following year the same author pub- 
lished "A Guide to Washington." Mr. Watterston was 
Librarian of Congress from 1815 to 1829. 

One of the most thorough and entertaining of the annalists 
of events connected with the origin and development of the Na- 
tional Capitol, is Mr. Wilhelmus B. Bryan, whose narratives 
cover almost every phase of the subject. 

Mr. Hugh T. Taggart, has also contributed with skill and 
profusion to preserve the facts and traditions which are of lead- 
ing interest and value on the same topic. 

Francis Scott Key, author, of "The Star Spangled Ban- 
ner," was a resident of the District of Columbia for many years 
and was recognized as a lawyer of great ability and force. 

Peter Force, already mentioned as the forceful mayor and 
friend of Washington, prepared or preserved nine folios of the 
American Archives and many other historical records, which 
would otherwise have been lost or at least much scattered. 



History of the City of Washington 491 

Anne Royal, while figuring chiefly as a journalist, wrote ten*1 
volumes of her travels in the United States. 

In 1843 Anthony Reintzel compiled and published "The 
Washington Directory and Governmental Register," a valuable 
register and reference help of its day. 

Another "Picture of Washington," appeared in 1845, writ- 
ten by William Q. Force, containing short sketches of interest- 
ing features in and about Washington, and having attached at 
the back, a Washington guide. 

Another Washington directory was published in 1846 by 
John T. Towers, containing more than any previous publica- 
tion of the sort, and in 1850 Edward Waite published "The 
Washington Directory and Congressional and Executive Regis- 
ter." 

Joseph B. Varnum published in 1848, ' ' The Seat of Govern- 
ment of the United States," another valuable little book to 
historians and readers. 

Robert Walsh, whom George A. Townsend said was perhaps 
"the founder of review literature in America," grew up in 
Georgetown and Washington. 

Joel Barlow, author of "The Columbiad," an epic which 
won fame for its author, lived for several years in the District, 
and built the famous home known as Kalorama. 

Several who had studied the Indians in their native ways 
of living, and recorded their savage customs, lived here, notably 
among them, Schoolcraft, Stanley and Catlin. 

In 1857 Colonel John S. Williams published a "History of 
the Invasion and Capture of Washington," his object being to 
vindicate the Americans for their defeat at Bladensburg in 1814. 

John Burroughs, the great nature lover and nature writer 
lived here and wrote here for years. Many of his later writings 
seem imbued with the atmosphere of Nature ;is manifested in 
the District of Columbia, and in the adjacent Virginia and Mary- 
land hills. Another of Nature's loving sons, and whom we think 
of so often in connection with Burroughs, was Joaquin Miller, 
who also wrote several of his books here. 



y 



492 History of the City of Washington 

It was here too that Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous novel, 
"Uncle Tom's Cabin," first appeared, in The National Intelli- 
gencer. 

Walt Whitman was once a Government clerk in the office 
of the Attorney-general, and produced several of his works dur- 
ing that time. 

George Bancroft, the historian, lived and wrote here many- 
years. In 1845 he was Secretary of the Navy under President 
Polk. To him is due credit for the establishment of the Naval 
Academy at Annapolis. He died in Washington in 1891, at 
the advanced age of ninety years. 

Ainsworth R. Spofford, was Librarian of Congress for many 
years. His pen was prolific, despite the arduous duties of his 
position. For many years Mr. Spofford edited "The American 
Almanac and Treasury of Facts," and among his writings are 
"The Higher Law Tried by Reason and Authority;" "The 
Founding of Washington, with Considerations on the Origin of 
Cities and Location of National Capitals." 

Richard P. Jackson published "The Chronicles of George- 
town, District of Columbia." 

George W. Sampson wrote, among other things, "Elements 
of Art Criticism," a voluminous and comprehensive history of 
art. 

Charles Lanman wrote many books of travel and biography. 

General Albert Pike, who lived here several years, was a 
poet of ability, a journalist of wide experience, and wrote several 
books on Freemasonry and Law. 

Dr. Joseph M. Toner wrote a number of histories and 
scientific books, besides several volumes of lectures. 

Helen C. Weeks wrote many stories for children, winning 
a name surpassed by few other juvenile writers. 

Henry Barnard was an educational writer of note. 

George Alfred Townsend, an extensive traveler, contributed 
to many newspapers and magazines, wrote stories, poems and 
a history of the Capital called "Washington, Outsilde and 
Inside." 



History of the City of Washington 493 

Benjamin J. Lovejoy wrote here "The Life of Francis 
Bacon. ' ' 

Frederick Douglas, the celebrated negro orator who lived in 
Washington several years, wrote "My Bondage and My Free- 
dom." 

Ben Perley Poore, an early journalist in Washington, wrote 
"The Rise and Fall of Louis Philippe," and "Reminiscences of 
Sixty Years." 

Charles D. Drake and Charles Nordhoff wrote socialistic 
and historical books. 

George E. Harris, a Mississippian who lived in Washington 
many years, has written histories of numerous laws, law books 
and many other things. 

William T. Harris wrote educational and philosophic books 
and "The Spiritual Sense of Dante's 'Divina Commedia. ' ' 
Edward A. Fay wrote a concordance to the works of Dante. 

Thomas Nelson Page, the well-known novelist and writer 
of Southern life, has spent a large part of his life in Washing- 
ton and has written many of his books here. 

Ella Lorraine Dorsey has numerous entertaining volumes 
and sketches to her credit. 

George L. Raymond wrote many books on the fine arts and 
Charles W. Stoddard wrote here many of the fascinating narra- 
tives of his extensive travels. 

Elizabeth B. Johnston wrote "Original Portraits of Wash- 
ington," "Washington Day by Day," besides many stories and 
sketches. 

William L. Shoemaker wrote a book on "The Indian 
Weed," poems and stories. 

Mrs. E. D. E. N. South worth, a novelist widely read in 
her day, was a native of Washington and spent most of her 
life, which was a long one, in the District. It is said that her 
story "Retribution," published in 1S43, was the first serial 
story written in America. For many years she wrote for the 
Saturday Evening Post, her stories running its subscription up 
from twelve hundred to thirty thousand. She wrote, it is said, 
an average of a novel a year for every year of her life. 



494 History of the City of Washington 

Mary Clemmer, poet and journalist, a well-beloved writer 
of her day, wrote ' ' Ten Years in Washington. ' ' 

Henry B. F. Macfarland, the noted journalist and orator, 
has contributed much to general literature. 

Henry Litchfield West, is regarded as the most accom- 
plished political analyst of his time, as well as a writer of excel- 
lence generally. 

Harriet T. Upton wrote "Our Early Presidents" and other 
books. 

Isabella Alden, known as "Pansy," wrote many of her 
well-known and broadly read books in Washington. 

Alexander Graham Bell has been a writer as well as 
inventor. Some of his works are: "Upon the Production of 
Sound by Radiant Energy," and several treatises upon the 
care and training of deaf mutes. 

Edward M. Gallaudet, who came to Washington in 1857 to 
take charge of the Columbian Institute for the Deaf, Dumb 
and Blind, wrote "The Combined System of Educating the 
Deaf;" "International Ethics;" and "Manual of International 
Law. ' ' 

Alice C. Fletcher wrote "Studies of Indian Music," and 
other Indian books. 

Jeremiah Curtin did much of his translating and other 
writing in Washington. 

W. W. Rockhill wrote of his extensive travels in the East, 
and "Life of Buddha." 

"Recollections of Men and Things in Washington," by 
Louis A. Gobright is an interesting book by an observant man 
who was one of the journalists closely associated with President 
Lincoln. Noah Brooks, another journalist who was not only 
associated with President Lincoln, but was his friend, wrote, 
many years after the President's decease, "Washington in 
Lincoln's Time," gathered from his own observations while 
resident here. 

Notably among the many other lives written of Lincoln, is 
one by Nicolay and Hay, both John G. Nicolay and John Hay 
having been residents of Washington. These men were engaged 



History of the City of Washington 495 

fifteen years in writing this book, their researches being very 
extensive. Both of these writers did much other excellent liter- 
ary work. 

Charles Lanman, who was private secretary to Daniel Web- 
ster, wrote a life of the great New Hampshire statesman. He 
also wrote of life in Japan, illustrated with his own sketches and 
prepared the first "Dictionary of Congress." 

Gardner Green Hubbard wrote "American Railroads," 
"Education of Deal Mutes" and other things. 

"William Torrey Harris wrote books on education and 
philosophy. 

Emily Edson Briggs, known as ' ' Olivia, ' ' won quite a repu- 
tation as a journalist and author. 

Simon Wolf, the eminent Jewish orator and author, whose 
literary productions cover almost every phase of human interest 
resides here. 

Judson C. Welliver, has a national reputation as an essayist 
and editor. 

Molly Elliott Seawell wrote several of her novels here, as 
did Anna Hanson Dorsey. The latter, a native and resident 
of the District of Columbia, wrote numerous novels. One cf 
them entitled "May Brooke" was quite successful and was 
republished in Scotland. It was the first Catholic book published 
in that country since the Reformation. 

Elizabeth R. Scidmore wrote of Alaska, the Sitka Archi- 
pelago, the Berkeleys, et cetera. 
,y Frances Hodgson Burnett, a native of Manchester, England, 
came to Washington in 1875, and after making the American 
city her home, her books became a mixture of American and 
English life, which have been read with delight in both coun- 
tries. "Little Lord Fauntleroy" is known to all the reading 
world and never ceases to charm its readers. 

Some of the other numerous worthy historical writers, who 
lived in Washington various lengths of time, are, Edward 
McPherson; Charles C. Nott; P. H. Sheridan, who wrote "Per- 
sonal Memoirs;" William T. Sherman, also author of his own 
memoirs; Julia Seaton, author of "William W. Seaton;" Frank 



496 History of the City of Washington 

G. Carpenter; William E. Curtis; Mary S. Lockwoot; Samuel 
C. Busey, whose "Pictures of the City of Washington in the 
Past," is a widely consulted volume; Olive Risley-Seward 
Reverend J. L. M. Curry; Clara Barton; Mrs. John A. Logan 
Sir Augustus G. Foster, Minister of Great Britain in 1811 
G. T. Poussin, Minister of France in 1848, who wrote several 
volumes on America; Senor D. F. Sarmiento; Senor Filipe 
Molina; Baron Kurd von Schlozer, Ambassador from Germany 
in 1876-1877 ; Manuel Larrainzar ; Matias Romero, Minister 
from Mexico to the United States for twenty years; Sir Henry 
Lytton Bulwer, Minister from Great Britain, 1850-1851; and 
several other ministers and embassadors. 

Mr. Spofford tells us that thirteen Presidents of the United 
States have been writers of books, namely: "Jefferson, Madison, 
Monroe, both the Adamses, Van Buren, Buchanan, Lincoln, 
Grant, Garfield, Harrison, McKinley and Roosevelt." Since 
the last named, President Wilson, a well-known writer of history, 
has been added to the list. 

Some strong scientific writers not already mentioned are : 
Clarence E. Button; Henry Gannett; Henry C. Bolton; Simon 
Newcomb, the well-known astronomer; Robert Fletcher; Flor- 
ence A. Merriman, the bird-lover; Theodore N. Gill and George 
Brown Goode, two naturalists of note ; Garrick Mallery ; Thomas 
C. Mendenhall; Lester F. Ward; Charles V. Riley; A. W. 
Greely ; Samuel P. Langley ; Major J. W. Powell, a voluminous 
scientific writer, especially on geology; Professor W. G. McGee; 
Alexander D. Anderson ; and many others, some of whom would 
be quickly mentioned if such a sea of names did not make it so 
difficult to choose. 

As early as 1797 the Washington Library was formed, with 
Nicholas King, Librarian. In Georgetown a library was estab- 
lished in 1793 or 1794, known as the Columbian Library. In 
June, 1801, a circulating library was established by Richard 
Dinmore on Pennsylvania Avenue, and in August following 
Hugh Somerville opened a second circulating library in his 
grocery store near the market. 



History of the City of Washington 497 

In 1811 another Washington Library was established and 
this was the chief library of Washington for a great many 
years. 

A library for Congress was early established and had 
grown to considerable size when the British destroyed it. After 
that war was ended renewed determination for a library was 
aroused and we read of how Thomas Jefferson's long-collected 
library was purchased by the Government. 

As art and literature went hand in hand, so music and the 
drama marched side by side in municipal culture. 

Washington had so many serious business problems and so 
much opposition to combat, that it was some time before theatres 
could be made to compensate their owners. 

Mr. A. I. Mudd, in an interesting paper prepared for the 
Columbia Historical Society, gives a full and interesting resume 
of the history of the Washington stage, which dates from the 
removal of the seat of the National Government to this city. 
When the Government was moved from Philadelphia there were 
then existing in the Quaker City two theatres. One of these 
was known as the "New Theatre," and its season closed while 
the Government possessions were being removed. The man- 
agers, Messrs. Wignell and Reinagle, moved their players to the 
new Government center and gave performances in part of the 
"Lottery Hotel," which had been fitted up for a play-house and 
was named the "United States Theatre." The new enterprise 
was unfortunate in its start, as most of the company's scenery 
was destroyed by a storm at the time of its removal. This mis- 
fortune did not prevent the players from opening for a season 
in June, 1800, and they continued for several months to play to 
appreciative audiences. 

In 1803 some leading citizens agitated the building of a 
theatre, and subscriptions for the enterprise were pledged, a site 
selected at the northwest corner of C and Eleventh Streets, north- 
west, and a building begun. 

On November 16, 1804, the new play-house, which was 
named the "Washington Theatre," was opened with a "Grand 
Medley Entertainment by the celebrated Mr. Maginnis from Lon- 



498 History of the City of Washington 

don who had performed in most of the Capital Cities of Europe 
and America." 

On September 9, 1805, the theatre was re-opened with the 
Philadelphia Company, who played "Wives as They Were and 
Maids as They Are." Prices to these performances were one 
dollar for the boxes and seventy cents for seats in the "pit," 
which was then on the first floor. 

There was a short season in 1806, after which the Wash- 
ington Theatre remained dark for nearly two years. In Sep- 
tember, 1808, it was opened by the Philadelphia and Baltimore 
Company with "The Rivals," in which Mr. Joseph Jefferson 
took the part of Bob Acres. This was the grandfather of the 
great Joseph Jefferson of Rip Van Winkle fame. 

For several years following, the Philadelphia and Baltimore 
Company, with occasional changes of members, filled a summer 
engagement in the Capital city, giving such plays as "The Poor 
Gentleman," "She Stoops to Conquer, "numerous farces; several 
of Shakespeare's plays, and several patriotic dramas. 

The Thespian Society won local distinction for its members, 
and in the autumn of 1815 this Society gave several perform- 
ances for the benefit of the poor, which were largely attended by 
people of all classes, one night being honored by General 
Andrew Jackson's presence. 

Summer engagements of the Philadelphia and Baltimore 
Company continued until 1818, when the Theatre 's management 
changed and it was opened for the winter and spring season. 
On February 26, 1818, Charles Incledon, a famous singer of 
London, was engaged for one night. 

Another London favorite was Mrs. Bartley, who came to 
Washington March 8, 1819, and played for four nights. On the 
night of the last performance she recited "A Monologue," writ- 
ten especially for her by the Irish poet "Tom" Moore. 

April 19, 1820, the Washington Theatre was destroyed by 
fire. In 1821 the theatre site was purchased by Lewis Carusi, 
who built on the ground a new theatre which was opened in 
1822, as the "Washington City Assembly Rooms." 



History of the City of Washington 499 

Another theatre was also erected in 1821 on Louisiana Ave- 
nue. This little theatre, called "The Washington Theatre," ac- 
commodated seven hundred people and was conducted in first 
class manner. It is noted that smoking was prohibited and 
liquor "excluded from the box lobbies." The colored people 
were also provided for in the new Washington Theatre by hav- 
ing boxes set apart for them. 

On the night of August 1, 1822, Washington had for the 
first time the elder Booth, who had been playing to crowded 
houses in London. 

In the spring of 1824 Washington had opera, when "Clari; 
or the Maid of Milan," was given. This opera was well re- 
ceived, especially as it had been written by a former actor of the 
Washington Theatre, John Howard Payne. It is recorded that 
the singing of "Home, Sweet Home," by Mrs. Waring was 
tumultuously received. 

In the fall of 1826 Hackett and Edwin Forrest made their 
first appearance in Washington, one in September, in ' ' The Duke 
of Gloster, ' ' and the other in October in ' ' Pizarro. ' ' 

Mdlle. Celeste, a great favorite of her day, first appeared 
in Washington March 29, 1828, as Julietta in "The Dumb Girl 
of Genoa. ' ' She also gave some of her wonderful dances, which 
had helped to make her famous. Others who appeared that sea- 
son were Clara Fisher, Cooper, Pearman, Hamblin and Mr. and 
Mrs. Sloman. 

In 1832 Mrs. Drake starred with Edwin Forrest and they 
appeared in Washington in several plays. 

The autumn season of this year commenced in October. 
Among the actors who came were T. D. Rice, a minstrel whose 
success with negro songs made him popular, two of his best 
being "Clare de Kitchen" and "Jim Crow;" the latter with its 
dancing making a great impression on the then small Joseph 
Jefferson. The young Jefferson's imitation of Mr. Pic,, was so 
pronounced and funny that the comedian conceived the idea of 
having the little boy of four years sing with him. He took him 
on the stage in a bag, and during the song emptied the bag, and 
the two sang and danced alternate stanzas of the song, which so 



500 History of the City of Washington 

delighted the audience that twenty-four dollars in coins were 
thrown onto the stage to the little fellow. 

In January of 1833, the famous Fanny Kemble and her 
father made their first appearance before a Washington audi- 
ence, playing "The Stranger." The following month the Ravel 
family came for the first time and became great favorites. 

In 1835 a new theatre called "The National Theatre," was 
built on Pennsylvania Avenue, and was opened December 7, of 
that year. The play presented was "The Man of the World," 
with Maywood as Sir Pertinax Macsycophant. 

After the transformation of the old Washington Theatre, 
it was opened December 25, 1835, renamed "The American 
Theatre." 

George Washington Parke Custis, wrote a national drama, 
placed in Virginia, called "Pocahontas; or the First Settlers of 
Virginia." This drama was produced in Washington on the 
night of February 6, 1836, and was repeated several nights with 
great success. 

General Alexander Macomb, Commander of the United 
States Army, wrote a play, "Pontiac; or The Siege of Detroit," 
which was presented at the National Theatre March 4, 1836, to 
an interested audience. This play was staged with great 
splendor, the United States marines being used as soldiers who 
fought the Indians. 

Celeste, the popular actress who had been to the old Wash- 
ington Theatre had become the rage with theatre-goers, and in 
one season she received $50,000 in the United States. She came 
to the National Theatre in Washington March 9, 1836, and pre- 
sented "The French Spy; or The Wild Arab of the Desert." 
She also danced La Bayadere, the operatic ballet from "The 
Maid of Cashmere." So much in demand was this stage-queen 
that she was twice re-engaged, and left Washington the most 
applauded performer who had come to the city up to that time. 

Ellen Tree, who made her debut in Washington in 1838 as 
Rosalind in "As You Like It," made a great impression on 
Washington audiences in that and other characters. 



History of the City of Washington 501 

The next decade brought many old and new favorites, and 
theatres underwent changes. On January 4, 1840, the Ameri- 
can favorite, Virginia Monier, gave ' ' The Merchant of Venice, 
herself taking the part of Portia. Charles Keen came January 
6, after which he and Miss Monier played together in ' ' Hamlet, 
"Merchant of Venice," "Richard the Third," and "The Iron 
Chest." 

Mrs. Fitzwilliam, who had been starring in the London 
theatres, came to Washington, making her debut here January 
13, as Miss Peggy, in "The Country Girl." Her Irish songs 
were especially well received, and she was called one of the most 
brilliant stars of her day. 

The American Theatre opened in March, 1840, for a few 
nights only, but re-opened later under a new management, 
Messrs. Jackson and Hardy having leased it, themselves forming 
part of the company of players. "The Iron Chest" and other 
plays were given. 

At the National Theatre, which opened May 25, 1840, ap- 
peared Fanny Elssler and Sylvain from the Royal Academy of 
Music of Paris in July, when Miss Elssler made an impression on 
her audiences almost equal to that of Celeste. 

During part of the year 1844, the National Theatre was 
used for a circus and performances came rather spasmodically 
for a while. 

March 5, 1845, while a performance was in progress, the 
National Theatre took fire and in a short while the entire build- 
ing was in flames. The audience and actors became panic- 
stricken, but all the people got out safely. 

On November 30, 1846, a new theatre was opened on the 
northeast corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Four-and-a-Half 
Street, called the Odeon. The company was a good one and the 
expense of keeping them and other added expenses caused the 
manager to double the prices of admission. 

The Odeon was small, accommodating only about four hun- 
dred people, so in December, 1847, another theatre was fitted up 
in a building on Pennsylvania Avenue, not far from the Odeon. 
The new amusement-house was called "The Adelphi," and could 



502 History of the City of Washington 

accommodate one thousand people. A stock company was 
formed, of which the managers, Messrs. Brown and Nichols, 
were members. This theatre became popular and several good 
plays were rendered on its boards during its first season. 

To the Adelphi came in 1849, Julia Dean, Charley Burke, 
Bellamy, Kate Horn, Mrs. Drake, and the forty-eight members 
of the Danseuse Viennoises. 

Charlotte Cushman made her first appearance in Washing- 
ton in 1849, as Meg Merriles in "Guy Mannering," and her fin- 
ished acting brought much enthusiasm. She gave several other 
plays and was pronounced one of the best players who had ever 
come to Washington or had been on the stage. 

On the night of November 8, 1850, another Booth, then a 
lad of sixteen, came to the Capital City with his father, when 
the to-be famous Edwin took the part of Hemeya in "The 
Apostate. ' ' 

In September, 1850, Jenny Lind, whose singing and acting 
had created a sensation in Europe, landed in America. The 
"Sweedish Nightingale" became the rage in America as she had 
been in Europe, and cities that secured engagements from her 
had difficulty in accommodating the thousands of people who 
wished to hear the new wonder sing. Washington had no hall 
large enough to even half-way provide for the crowds, so some 
enterprising managers erected one on the site of the old National 
Theatre. This quickly constructed auditorium was named Na- 
tional Hall and could seat three and a half thousand persons. 

Miss Lind was engaged for two nights, December sixteenth 
and eighteenth, and although seats sold for seven, five and four 
dollars, the hall was filled at both performances. It proved well 
that a strong building had been erected for the ' ' Nightingale 's ' ' 
performances, for when she appeared before the audience the 
walls shook from the applause. When she sang the audience 
was spell-bound and the pieces especially mentioned for their 
marvellous rendition are the Bird Song, the Echo Song and the 
flute imitation. 

Carusi's Saloon was a popular place of vaudeville entertain- 
ment during this season. 



History of the City of Washington 503 

In 1852 we find a new amusement house on Pennsylvania 
Avenue, between Ninth and Tenth Streets, called the Iron Hall 
Assembly Rooms. Here were studios of teachers of the different 
arts and the hall was used for occasional concerts and various 
exhibits for instruction and entertainment. In 1853 this hall 
was fitted up for a first-class theatre and renamed, Risley's 
Varietie. 

In the year 1856 this theatre again changed hands and be- 
came the "People's Theatre, (Late Varieties) " and it was that 
year the chief theatre, giving numerous popular plays and bring- 
ing some good actors. In May it became the Varietie again and 
under that name staid open for a short time. 

November 19, 1855, it again opened with Kunkle and Com- 
pany, proprietors and John T. Ford, manager. The theatre had 
been renovated throughout with "Costumes, Scenery and prop- 
erties unexcelled for tasteful elegance and effect," and with 
' ' new and comfortable seats. ' ' 

In November, 1853, Ole Bull came to Carusi's Saloon as- 
sisted by Adelina Patti, then young in her brilliant career. 

1856 and 1857 shows Carusi's still in popular favor, when 
many musical treats were there given to Washington audiences, 
as well as high-class readings; but during 1859 the hall's an- 
nouncements cease. 

Circuses appear yearly too, some having other entertain- 
ment features than animals. Franconi's Hippodrome gave ath- 
letic performances which lasted a week, during which time 
were represented "The Tournament of the Field of the Cloth 
of Gold," "classic games of Greece and Rome, and National 
sports of all countries and all ages. ' ' 

In the Smithsonian Lecture Room, which was continually 
used for scientific lectures and demonstrations, there was an 
occasional popular entertainment. In May, 1855, was a Grand 
Vocal and Instrumental Concert by the Musical Convention, 
under patronage of the Union Choir Association. In May of 
the following year this hall had a Children's concert, which was 
well patronized. 



504 History of the City of Washington 

Among other halls of the latter part of the decade the Phil- 
harmonic and Willard's halls seemed to divide honors, in both of 
which were given several high-class concerts, readings, lectures 
and other entertainments. 

On January 5, 1858 the Washington Theatre was opened, 
under the management of W. Stuart, the leassee. Its first artist 
was Teresa Rolla, who, with good support, had a run of a number 
of nights. 

The season of 1859 for the Washington Theatre opened Sep- 
tember 1, under the management of S. W. Glenn, with "select 
and strong dramatic company." 

The Washington Theatre had crowded houses during the 
winter of 1859-1860. It had several seasons of Grand Opera 
and among other recognized singers of the day was Adelina 
Patti, who was growing in popularity for her wonderful voice, 
and Washington audiences were among the most appreciative of 
her genius. Her sister Carlotta was considered one of the great- 
est singers of that time. Among the dramatists who came were 
Maggie Mitchell and Joseph Jefferson. 

1861 shows that the Washington had Hackett; The French 
Zouaves, real French soldiers who had formed a dramatic corps 
during the Crimean War and were later joined by some "Lady 
Zouaves ; ' ' Sothern ; Charlotte Cushman and other celebrities. 

In October The Theatre opens a season under the manage- 
ment of Mr. Bland and in December it is again The Washington 
Theatre with "crowded houses." 

September opened with Ada Isaacs Menken, in her first ap- 
pearance in Washington, where she became popular. 

In February of 1863, Maggie Mitchell received a warm wel- 
come from Washingtonians, who called her "Our Maggie." 

In April there was Grand Opera for over a week, followed 
by John Wilkes Booth in Shakespeare and other tragedies. 
The Intelligencer described him as "the distinguished young 
American tragedian." 

One of the actors especially attracting attention was Laura 
Keene, in February, 1864, when she had a very successful en- 



History of the City of Washington 505 

gagement. When she left the Intelligencer asserted : ' ' We are 
almost vexed with her for this elopement," and of her acting, 
that it "comes so near Nature as almost to rob Art." 

In 1862 three theatres and several halls were having almost 
nightly performances during the autumn and winter but all 
were closed during the summer following, 1863, except the 
Washington Theatre, and Canterbury Hall on the south side of 
Louisiana Avenue, between Four-and-a-Half and Sixth Streets, 
a variety resort. 

In 1862 the National Theatre was rebuilt and opened April 
21, Easter Monday, as Grover's Theatre. The following year 
there was more rebuilding and renovation of Grover's Theatre 
and it opened October 6, with a company of "eminent dramatic 
artists. ' ' 

In February of 1864 Edwin Booth had a season of Shakes- 
peare and other drama, during which time he received even more 
than usual praise as a dramatic artist. 

In 1861 New Opera House was opened on Tenth Street, 
near E, in December with Christy's Minstrels for a short season 
and the following year we find the theatre changed to Christy's 
Opera House. 

On March 19, 1862, under the management of John T. Ford, 
a new play-house was opened on Tenth Street, between E and F 
Streets, northwest, called Ford's Theatre. It was well equipped 
and artistically decorated, offering comfort to patrons. The 
opening play was "The French Spy," by Lucille Western and 
a superior dramatic company. 

During the following September, Maggie Mitchell gave a 
number of attractive plays there, in all of which she seemed to 
excel. 

In March an English Opera Company with Caroline Rich- 
ings, Peter Richings, Dunn and a full chorus, besides expert and 
artistic dancers, performed at this theatre. 

Ford's began 1865 with Edwin Forrest, well supported, in 
Damon and Pythias; "Richelieu;" and Shakespeare. In Jan- 
uary, J. McCullough, then young in his fame, played there with 
Forrest and Madame Ponisi. 



506 History of the City of Washington 

During th«- montbr-of February J. S. Clarke, Mrs. Wilkins, 
Mrs. Bowers and Alice Gray, were warmly welcomed. 

In March, there was a Grand Concert with an orchestra of 
"forty members of first-class talent." Edwin Forrest followed 
and then another Grand Concert; and later a week of Grand 
Italian Opera. 

April 3, Laura Keene came, supported by John Dyott, J. C. 
McCollum, Harry Hawk and the stock company of the theatre. 
They gave "The Workmen of Washington," whicn comprised 
three acts and twelve tableaux. This ran until April 10, when 
"She Stoops to Conquer," was given and it was followed by 
"The School for Scandal," when "The Workmen of Washing- 
ton" was repeated by request, after which followed "Peg Woff- 
ington." "Our American Cousin" was staged April 14, when 
President Lincoln was assassinated there, about 10:20 p. m. 
by John Wilkes Booth, which ended the play and practically 
closed that theatre as a place of amusement forever. 

Gr over's Theatre opened the year 1865 with Avonia Jones 
in ' ' Leah. ' ' She followed this night with ' ' Medea ; " " Camille ; ' ' 
"East Lynne"; "Judith"; and several Shakespearean plays 
with John Wilkes Booth as co-star. Following this season of 
drama, the Marinetti Opera Troupe gave their first perform- 
ances in America, at Grover's. With them was a full Italian 
chorus and grand orchestra. They were followed later in the 
month by Lucille Western, whose playing and dancing, espe- 
cially her jigging, won great applause. 

In February Barney Williams was a popular attraction and 
he was followed the last of the month by Chanfrau. Other play^ 
ers came after him up to the night of President Lincoln 's assassi- 
nation, after which people had no wish for amusement. In 
April the management of this theatre announced that "in view 
of the fearful calamity which has befallen our country in the 
disastrous death of our beloved President," it was considered 
"essential that the places of amusement of the city should re- 
mained closed until the general grief which our community is 
suffering has fully subsided," and the theatre was closed indefi- 
nitely. All attaches of the theatre, belonging as they did, to the 



History of the City of Washington 507 

host of mourners, immediately consented to annul their engage- 
ments. 

In September, 1866, Grover's becomes the National Theatre, 
with Spalding and Rapley, proprietors. The newly fitted up 
theatre opened with "The Ice Witch," which stayed until Oc- 
tober. Among the attractions following were the comedy "Rose- 
dale;" "Temptation;" "Lady of Lyons;" tragedies, comedies 
and operas. 

Joseph Jefferson had a successful season in December, clos- 
ing with ' ' Rip Van Winkle, ' ' in which play he had made a repu- 
tation even at that early date. The National Intelligencer, De- 
cember 21, gave half a column of editorial praise of this rendi- 
tion of Mr. Jefferson's. 

The regular season was opened in October, "with a great 
cast and Marine Band in British Uniform." They gave "Ours" 
which ran for several nights, and was followed by "Black 
Crook." 

1869 began with ' ' Black Crook, ' ' which was followed by an- 
other spectacular performance, "Undine," with the same ballet 
troupe. 

A new theatre, known as Wall's Opera House, at the inter- 
section of Louisiana Avenue and C Street, northwest, was in- 
augurated and managed by John T. Ford, September 22, 1866. 
Its initial performance was Italian Opera for two nights. Octo- 
ber 16 the Washington Dramatic Club gave a benefit in this 
house for the benefit of the poor. 

The amusement halls during the sixties did their part 
toward entertaining Washington people. Conspicuous among 
these was Metzerott Hall, on the north side of Pennsylvania 
Avenue, between Ninth and Tenth Streets, where there were 
many concerts of high order, lectures, oratorios, entertainments 
of home talent and readings from famous authors. Among the 
readers was Mark Twain, whose humor drew great crowds. 

In 1868 Carroll Hall, at southeast corner of Tenth and G 
Streets, northwest, held its own with Metzerott, where there 
were several celebrities of the day besides dramatic readings, 
concerts, et cetera. Among the readers here was Charles Dick- 



508 History of the City of Washington 

ens in January. Th famous "Boz" gave four nights of enter- 
tainment during which time he read or recited selections from 
The Christmas Carol, Pickwick, David Copperfield and Nicholas 
Nickleby. 

Lincoln Hall in 1868 had Carlotta Patti, the renowned 
singer, in Grand Concert, and the following month, December, 
Mrs. Scott-Siddons was engaged for a "Night with Shakespeare 
and Mendelssohn." 

In 1866, the Philharmonic Society of Washington was 
formed, with about fifty members. "St. Paul" was their first 
oratorio, which was given March 7. On the night of December 
25 of that year, this society gave "The Messiah," conducted by 
Dr. J. P. Caulfield. The sopranos were Mrs. Butts and Miss 
Paulie C. Ewer; contralto, Mrs. J. P. Caulfield; tenor, Mr. 
Arthur Mathison ; baritone, Mr. L. V. Gannon. 

In April the Mendelssohn Quintette Club gave two concerts, 
which were both classic and well attended. 

In 1869 the Choral Society was organized, composed of male 
singers of the District of Columbia. In a year the membership 
numbered one hundred eighty active members, with Harry C. 
Sherman, musical director. 

Herr Franz Abt received his first American welcome in 
"Washington, which occurred on the night of May 8, 1872, when 
he had a grand testimonial concert. This was under the auspices 
of the Choral Society and two German societies of Washington 
at Lincoln Hall. 

The National continues successful until January 28, 1873, 
when the theatre was totally destroyed by fire. 

After this misfortune to the National the only places of 
amusement were the Washington Theatre and various halls, 
which did their duty until February 22, when Wall's Theatre 
re-opened and became popular. 

On December 1, the National, which had been rebuilt, 
opened under the management of J. G. Saville. The new thea- 
tre's initial attraction was Maggie Mitchell and her excellent 
company. 



History of the City of Washington 509 

In December, 1873, Ford's Theatre, or Walls's Opera House, 
as it was sometimes called, was again opened, and regained its old 
popularity. Among its stars that season were Joseph Jefferson 
and Clara Morris, and these two continued to appear there 
through the seasons following. All the remaining years of the 
decade it was among the most popular theatres of the city. 

In October, 1877, the Redpath Lyceum Course opened in 
Lincoln Hall. This course opened with a Grand Concert by the 
Boston Philharmonic Club and during the season were inter- 
spersed several other excellent concerts. The lectures included 
one on ' ' The Stage, ' ' by Daniel Dougherty ; ' ' Superfluous Wom- 
en," by Mary A. Livermore; "Art" by W. W. Story; and 
"bubbling humor" from Josh Billings. 

In 1878 "The Talking Phonograph" was exhibited and 
great crowds of Washingtonians marveled at this new invention. 
The theatres and halls gave their usual line of attractions. 

During 1879 "Pinafore" seems to have been immensely 
popular and was presented at different times, winter and sum- 
mer, in nearly every theatre and hall in the city. 

The decade of 1880-1890, showed not only the usual appre- 
ciation of good drama and music, but a continued improvement 
in taste. The amateur entertainments are notably good ; and the 
greatest stars of the world visit Washington during that time. 

Among the many lecturers were John Fiske ; Robert G. In- 
gersoll ; Mary A. Livermore, and Stoddard, with lectures on his- 
tory and travel. 

On February 27, 1885, the National Theatre was again total- 
ly destroyed by fire, after which the popular places of amuse- 
ment were Ford's, Albaugh's Theatre, the Grand Opera House 
and Herzog's Museum, afterward changed to Herzog's Ninth 
Street Opera House. 

During the summer the National was rebuilt and opened 
for its fall season October 5, 1885, with comedy. 

Band concerts grow in favor and summer out-of-door con- 
certs for the public were encouraged. One of the noted band 
leaders, Walter Damrosch, widely recognized for his ability as 
a musical leader, distinguished himself in another way in May, 



510 History of the City of Washington 

1890, by marrying Miss Margaret Blaine, daughter of James G. 
Blaine, the great statesman. 

In 1892 a law was passed that all theatres should have exits 
from the buildings, leading directly into the streets. 

Several new theatres came into existence: Kernan's Lyce- 
um Theatre, Columbia Theatre, Lafayette Square Opera House, 
the Grand Opera House and The Academy. 

In 1898 Josef Hofmann caused much enthusiasm among 
Washington music-lovers, as well as everywhere he appeared, 
with his wonderful playing. This trip brought him even more 
widespread fame than had his tour when a child, at which time 
listeners had marveled at the boy's execution. 

Hall Caine's play, "The Christian," made a tremendous 
"hit" in September and October, 1898, at the National, with 
Viola Allen. The Star declared that "Nothing approaching the 
interest that this play has evoked is remembered in this city by 
the oldest playgoers." 

Washington has become a center of culture, where good 
drama and classic music are appreciated for their worth and 
each year dramatists and musicians are received according to 
their proficiency in their art. 

Dramatic and musical societies have done much to elevate 
public taste and encourage local talent, while some of the most 
talented and finished teachers of drama and especially of music, 
afford advantages to aspiring professionals and amateurs. 

The summer band concerts have been a powerful force in 
improving musical taste and familiarizing the public with good 
and even classic music, especially the finished concerts given by 
the Marine Band, which attained a world wide fame through its 
relation to its old leader John Philip Sousa, the eminent compos- 
er of band marches and other musical works. 




Washington Monument 



CHAPTER XIV 



Monuments 

On December 21, 1799, just one week following the death of 
General Washington, Congress, on motion of Mr. Marshall of 
Virginia, unanimously passed the following resolution : 

"That a marble monument be erected by the United 
States at the Capitol in the City of "Washington, and that 
the family of General Washington be requested to permit 
his body to be deposited under it: and that the monument 
be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his 
military and political life." 

This resolution was transmitted by President Adams to 
Mrs. Washington who promptly replied, expressing her apprecia- 
tion of the action of Congress and indicating her willingness 
to comply with the suggestion made. The subject was, however, 
postponed by the Senate until the next session and was there- 
after postponed from year to year for many years without other 
action than the passing of resolutions by Congress upon the 
propriety of carrying out the original intention. 

Early in the century, popular sentiment, chafing at the 
delay of Congress, took shape in a movement to raise by public 
subscription the money necessary to erect a suitable monument 
in honor of Washington, the plan being to obtain a subscription 
of one dollar from each family throughout the United States. 
On October 31, 1833, a meeting was held at which the Wash- 
ington National Monument Society was organized with Chief 
Justice Marshall as President; Judge William Cranch, Joseph 
Gales, Jr., and W. W. Seaton as Vice Presidents ; Samuel Harri- 
son Smith, Treasurer; George Watterston, Secretary; and 
General T. J. Jesup, Colonel James Kearney, R. C. Weightman, 
Colonel N. Towson, William Brent, Peter Force, Colonel A. 
Henderson, Thomas Carbery, Thomas Munroe, M. St. Clair 



512 History of the City of Washington 

Clarke, W. A. Bradley, and J. McClelland as Managers. The 
President and Vice President and members of the Cabinet were 
made ex-officio members of the Board of Managers. The collec- 
tion of funds was arranged for by dividing the United States 
into four Districts, to which collectors were assigned, their com- 
pensation to be ten per cent of the amount collected. Upon the 
death of Chief Justice Marshall, Ex-President James Madison 
was appointed President of the Society July 25, 1835. 

In 1836, $28,000 had been collected. In that year the 
Society advertised for designs, no restriction being placed upon 
the character of the design except that it should "harmoniously 
blend durability, simplicity, and grandeur." The estimated 
cost was put at $1,000,000. 

Designs for the proposed monument were submitted by 
Robert Mills of Washington, S. M. Stone and Bennet and Piatt 
of New Haven, Thomas McClellend of New York, E. Barasius 
of Baltimore, George Hadfield, William Elliott and others. 
On November 30, 1844, W. W. Seaton, Peter Force, and George 
Watterston were appointed a committee to select the design for 
the monument and confer with the proper authorities with a 
view to the selection of a site. 

Many designs were submitted. That which was selected 
was by Robert Mills, a prominent architect of the time. The 
essential features of this design as published at the time were 
a grand circular colonnaded building, 250 feet in diameter and 
100 feet high, from which was to spring an obelisk shaft 70 
feet at the base and 500 feet high, making a total elevation 
of 600 feet. The rotunda forming the grand base of the Monu- 
ment was to be surrounded by 30 massive doric columns, 12 
feet in diameter and 45 feet high, elevated upon a base 20 feet 
high, and 300 feet square. The colonnade was to be surmounted 
by an entablature 20 feet high which in turn was to be crowned 
by a ballustrade 12 feet high. 

The entrance to the colonnaded rotunda was to be a portico 
of four columns in width and three in depth. Over the entrance 
was to be a triumphal chariot with a statue of Washington. 
Statues of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were 



History of the City of Washington 513 

to ovnament the interior of the rotunda. The obelisk was 
terminated by a much flatter cap than as finally completed. In 
adopting this design the Society did not commit itself to the 
construction of the pantheonic base and proposed at first to 
erect the shaft and leave the question as to the remainder of 
the design for future consideration. 

In 1845 the amount of money collected was $55,359.66. The 
Board of Managers at this time decided to resume their efforts 
to raise money by collection and to remove the limit of $1 from 
each contributor. They appointed Honorable Elisha Whittle- 
sey of Ohio, a general agent for this purpose. 

On January 31, 1848, Congress passed a resolution author- 
izing the Society to erect the Monument upon such portion of 
the public grounds in the City of Washington as should be 
selected by the President of the United States and the Board 
of Managers of the Society. The site selected was public 
reservation No. 3 on the plan of the city, containing upward of 
30 acres, for which President Polk executed a deed to the 
Society on February 22, 1849. 

In his original plan of the city, Major L 'Enfant had desig- 
nated the point of intersection of an east and west line drawn 
through the center of the Capitol, with a north and south line 
drawn through the center of the White House, as the site for 
an equestrian statue of Washington, the erection of which had 
been recommended by a resolution of Congress in 1783. The 
Managers of the Monument Association found it impossible to 
obtain an adequate foundation at this precise point, and were 
compelled to move the location of the monument a short distance 
east of it upon the center line of the Capitol. 

The work of excavating for the foundation was immediately 
begun and the foundations were completed by the first of June, 
1848. 

The foundation as originally constructed was of blue gneiss 
rock in large blocks. It was 80 feet square at the base, pyramidal 
in shape with steps and extended 7 feet 8 inches below and 15 
feet 8 inches above ground. 



514 History of the City of Washington 

The corner stone was laid on the afternoon of June 7. This 
stone, which had been donated by Mr. Symington from his 
marble quarries near Baltimore, transported by the Baltimore 
and Ohio Railroad Company free of charge, was a block of 
white marble six feet eight inches square, nearly three feet 
thick, and weighing 24,500 pounds. Joseph II. Bradley was in 
charge of the ceremonies. Honorable Robert C. Winthrop, of 
Massachusetts, delivered the oration; Reverend Mr. McJilton 
of Baltimore, delivered the prayer and Mr. B. B. French, Grand 
Master of the District of Columbia Masons, delivered the 
Masonic address. The dimensions of the Monument were 
reduced from a 70 foot base as designed by Robert Mills to 
one of 55 feet. 

In May, 1849, Mr. D. C. Sayre of Alabama, on behalf of 
a number of citizens of that State, proposed to quarry and 
prepare a block of marble from the quarries of Talladega 
County, to be placed in the monument. This offer was accepted, 
and suggested to the Board the plan of soliciting similar stones 
from States, societies and individuals. It is noteworthy that 
a large portion of the stones contributed bore inscriptions testi- 
fying a hope for the preservation of the Union. 

Meanwhile, the work of obtaining subscriptions was 
progressing rapidly and during the year 1850 contributions 
amounting to over $28,000 were received. By March, 1852, 
$130,000 had been received, and the Monument had risen to 
the height of over 100 feet. In the fall of 1852, $20,000 was 
raised by contributions obtained at the polls at the Presidential 
election of that year. In 1856, the total amount received was 
$230,000, which had been fully expended in the raising of the 
monument to a height of 174 feet. The work was at this time 
discontinued for a period of twenty years during the troubled 
times preceding and following the Civil War. 

By Act approved August 2, 1876, Congress appropriated 
$200,000 for the completion of the Monument under a joint 
commission to consist of the President, the Supervising Archi- 
tect of the Treasury and the Architect of the Capitol, the Chief 
of Engineers of the Army and the first vice-president of the 



History of the City of Washington 515 

Washington National Monument Society. The Act required 
the reconveyance to the United States of all the property, rights 
and privileges in the Monument belonging to the Society, which 
was executed by "W. W. Corcoran and Dr. John B. Blake as 
officers of the Society on January 19, 1877. 

The Act also required the examination of the foundations 
of the Monument, which being found insufficient were ordered 
by Congress to be strengthened. Lieut. Colonel, afterwards 
Brig. General, Thomas Lincoln Casey, assisted by Captain 
George W. Davis and Mr. Bernard R. Green, accomplished this 
difficult task in the course of which a deflection of 1.4 inches to 
the northwest due to settling was corrected. To strengthen the 
old foundation 70 per cent of the earth under it was dug away 
to a depth of 13 feet 6 inches and replaced with concrete 
extending 18 feet within and 23 feet 3 inches without the 
outer edges of the old foundation. The new foundation was 126 
feet 6 inches square. The Monument settled two and one-half 
inches during the placing of the new foundation and four inches 
during the entire period of its construction. 

The pyramidion which caps the Monument was designed 
by Mr. Bernard R. Green, and is a radical departure from and 
a marked improvement upon the flattened cap provided in the 
original design. 

The cornerstone of the first course of the new construction 
was laid on August 7, 1880, in the presence of President Hayes. 
Four similar appropriations were made in the ensuing four 
years, and the work was completed December 6, 1884, on which 
day the capstone was set in place with elaborate ceremonies 
led by President Arthur at which it was estimated twenty 
thousand persons were present. 

In the course of the renewed work a slight twist was given 
to the Monument to correct a misalignment of the faces of the 
lower portion with the points of the compass. 

All the marble used in the Monument came from Baltimore 
County, Maryland, except the first 26 feet of the upper portion 
which came from Massachusetts. The total cost of the structure 
was $1,187,710.31. 



518 History of the City of Washington 

The famous statue of "Washington by Horatio Greenough 
has probably received as much criticism, praise and censure as 
any statue ever made. Greenough received a commission from 
Congress for the work in 1832 and devoted his time and energy 
to it for eight years. 

After its completion a war vessel was first sent to bring 
it to America, but could not handle the huge mass which weighed 
twenty-one tons and an American merchantman, the Sea, was 
chartered for its accommodation. The monument reached Wash- 
ington in 1843 and was placed in the center of the rotunda 
of the Capitol. This was before the large dome had been built 
and the huge marble seemed greatly out of proportion. It had 
friends and advocates from the first, but did not appeal to the 
people generally as a suitable representation of Washington, 
and became the butt of much ridicule. It was finally taken 
from the Capitol building and placed in the east plaza facing 
the Capitol. There it stayed for a number of years, unsuited 
to its environment and exposed to the weather, which had not 
been considered in its making, and from which it received con- 
siderable damage. It was finally removed to the Smithsonian 
building. 

The statue represents Washington seated, in a Roman 
costume, pointing heavenward with his right hand, while in his 
left he holds a sheathed sword. 

This monument was the first colossal marble carved by an 
American and it cost for making, transportation, setting, etc., 
$43,000. 

The equestrian statue of Washington in Washington Circle, 
at Pennsylvania Avenue and Twenty-third Streets, is the work 
of Clark Mills, a self-taught sculptor who had followed the trade 
of plasterer. 

Congress in 1853 appropriated $50,000 for the monument 
and donated captured cannon as material for its composition. 
General Washington in this representation wears the uniform 
he wore at the Battle of Princeton, from which scene, just after 
he had rallied his troops in that battle, Mills chose to represent 
the leader. The face is modeled from Houdon's cast. 



History of the City of Washington 517 

The statue was unveiled February 22, 1860. President 
Buchanan dedicated the monument, civic and military organiza- 
tions taking part. The address of the occasion was delivered by 
a Virginia Representative, Honorable Thomas S. Bocock. 

Clark Mills' earliest work was the rearing equestrian statue 
of General Andrew Jackson which stands in the center of 
Lafayette Square. This sculptor's talents attracted so much 
attention while he was living in Charleston, S. C, that friends 
contributed a purse to enable him to go to Europe to study. While 
stopping in Washington on his way for that purpose, he was 
offered the commission for the Jackson statue. After some 
deliberation he accepted the task and his European trip was 
deferred. It is said that Mills had never seen an equestrian 
statue up to the time he executed this work. He studied his 
subject diligently, learned all the parts of a horse and rider, 
taught a horse to rear and stand on its hind legs, that he might 
study it so and get its equilibrium. The monument is so per- 
fectly balanced that the creator claimed for it the power to 
stand in its perfectly poised position, without fastening, indefi- 
nitely. For safety against high winds or other disturbing force, 
however, the feet of the horse were fastened to the pedestal. 

After conceiving and modeling this unusual statue, the 
sculptor himself cast it in bronze at his foundry near the present 
site of the Catholic University. The statue was dedicated with 
elaborate ceremonies, January 8, 1853, the thirty-eighth anniver- 
sary of the Battle of New Orleans. 

Twelve thousand dollars was first appropriated for this 
monument but as that amount did not even pay for the expense 
of the making, Congress made a later appropriation of twenty 
thousand dollars. Two replicas of this unusual monument have 
been made, one erected in New Orleans and the other in the 
Capitol grounds of Nashville, near the home of the hero of New 
Orleans. 

Several monuments have been erected in the city to the mem- 
ory of the martyr-President, Abraham Lincoln. The first of 
these is a life-size white marble standing figure of Lincoln by 
Lot Flannery, who was a local marble cutter, and is erected 



518 History of the City of Washington 

on a marble pillar twenty-seven feet in height, in front of the 
Court House. This tribute was paid for by private subscrip- 
tion and cost $7,000. It was dedicated April 15, 1868, President 
Grant leading in the ceremonies. 

On April 14, 1876, on the eleventh anniversary of Lincoln's 
assassination, another statue to his memory was unveiled in 
Lincoln Park, a mile from the Capitol. This is known as the 
Emancipation Monument and represents Lincoln standing with 
extended hand to help an unshackled slave to rise. This statue, 
which cost $18,000, was paid for by subscriptions of freed 
slaves, the first contribution to the fund being five dollars from 
Charlotte Scott, an ex-slave of Virginia. Congress appropriated 
$3,000 for the pedestal. The composition is the work of Thomas 
Ball. 

In the seventies the eminent sculptor Henry K. Brown, 
was commissioned by Congress to make two equestrian statues, 
one of General Winfield Scott and one of General Nathaniel 
Green. 

These were executed, that of General Scott being completed 
and turned over to the city in 1874. It is erected in Scott Cir- 
cle, at the intersection of Massachusetts and Rhode Island 
Avenues and Sixteenth and N Streets. 

Congress appropriated $45,000 for this monument and sup- 
plied the metal from which it was cast from cannon captured 
during the Mexican War. 

Another monument to General Scott, executed by Launt 
Thompson, is the heroic, standing figure, situated in the grounds 
of the Soldiers' Home. This large bronze figure looks toward 
the Capital City and, like the Brown statue, shows the General 
at an advanced age. 

At the intersection of Pennsylvania and Louisiana Avenues 
and Ninth Street, is a statue of General John A. Rawlings by 
J. Bailey. General Rawlings was Chief-of-Staff to General 
Grant and later Secretary of War. This monument is made 
of cannon captured by Grant's army and was erected in 1874. 
It cost $12,000, which amount was subscribed by friends and 



History of the City of Washington 519 

admirers of General Rawlings. Congress appropriated $3,000 
for the pedestal. 

The monument to General James B. MePherson, by Louis 
T. Rebisso, standing in the center of MePherson Square, was 
the gift of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. The 
monument was unveiled October 18, 1876. The ceremony was 
opened by General Sherman and the address of the occasion 
was given by General Logan. The cost of the monument was 
$23,500. The pedestal was provided by Congress at a cost of 
$25,000. 

The ornate fountain which stands in the Botanical Gardens 
is the work of Bartholdi, the designer of the Statue of Liberty 
in New York harbor. It was first exhibited at the Philadelphia 
Centennial Exposition, and was brought to Washington after 
the close of the Exposition. 

In Stanton Square in northeast Washington, stands the 
bronze equestrian figure of Nathaniel Green, mentioned above, 
represented in early Continental uniform, by Henry K. Brown. 

Two months after the death of General Green which occurred 
in June, 1786, Congress made an appropriation for the erection 
of a monument to his memory. This appropriation was never 
applied, and not until nearly a century later — June 24, 1874 — 
was another appropriation, of $40,000, made to honor the early 
hero, and the act put into effect. The work was completed and 
turned over to the city in 1877. 

The Naval or Peace monument stands at 'the Western 
entrance of the Capitol grounds, facing Pennsylvania Avenue. 
This memorial was designed by Franklin Simmons, after a 
sketched design by Admiral B. D. Porter. The foundation was 
designed by Edward Chirk. The work cost $41,000, half of 
which was furnished by contributions from the Navy and half 
by Congress. This monument was dedicated in 1878. 

The statue of General George II. Thomas by J. Q. A. Ward, 
situated in Thomas Circle at the intersection of Massachusetts 
and Vermont Avenues and Fourteenth and M Streets was a 
contribution from the Society of the Army of the Cumberland 



520 History of the City of Washington 

and cost $35,000. Congress appropriated $25,000 for the 
pedestal and furnished the bronze for the figures. 

The unveiling occurred on November 19, 1879, and the 
inaugural was very elaborate. Buildings were decorated in 
honor of the occasion and thousands of people thronged to 
witness the procession and the place of the unveiling exercises. 
The procession, chiefly military, is said to have taken two hours 
to pass one point. In addition to Washington military there 
were organizations from Annapolis, Alexandria, Cantonsville, 
Norfolk and Richmond, while military bands also came from 
West Point, Fort Monroe, Columbus, Ohio, David's Island, 
New York, and Frederick, Maryland, to assist those already 
here. Besides the music from these bands a choir of fifty select- 
ed male voices sang appropriate hymns and patriotic odes. 
Senator Stanley Matthews of Ohio delivered the oration, and 
President Hayes accepted the statue in behalf of the people of 
the United States. 

In Farragut Square at Connecticut. Avenue and I Street 
is a bronze figure by Vinnie Ream Hoxie, of Admiral David 
G. Farragut, which was cast from the guns of the flagship Hart- 
ford. The monument was unveiled April 25, 1881. Its cost 
was $25,000. 

In the Smithsonian grounds is W. W. Story's bronze 
figure of Professor Joseph Henry, the first Secretary of the 
Smithsonian Institution, erected by Congress at a cost of $15,000. 
It was dedicated April 19, 1882. 

Chief Justice John Marshall, has been honored by the erec- 
tion of a dignified sedent figure in bronze, executed by W. W. 
Story. This monument rests midway of the great western 
double stairway of the Capitol which leads down to Pennsylvania 
Avenue. It was the gift of members of the United States Bar, 
and the Government furnished the pedestal. The monument 
cost $40,000, and it was dedicated in 1884. 

In the center of Dupont Circle at Connecticut and New 
Hampshire Avenues, Nineteenth and P Streets, is a standing 
fio-ure in bronze by Launt Thompson, of Rear-Admiral Samuel 



History of the City of Washington 521 

Francis Dupont, dedicated on December 20, 1884. This monu- 
ment was erected by Congress at a cost of $20,500. 

Another monument erected in 1884 is that of Martin Luther, 
a replica of the central figure of the great work of Rietschel 
in Germany, at Wurms, cast from the original model. This 
strong figure, eleven and one-half feet in height, stands on an 
eleven foot pedestal before the Lutheran church northeast of 
>Thomas Circle, at Fourteenth and N Streets, northwest. Both 
the church and statue stand as a memorial of the four hundredth 
anniversary of the birth of the great German reformer. The 
monument cost $10,000, and was paid for by subscriptions of 
Lutherans all over the Country. 

The Garfield monument was dedicated May 12, 1887, and 
is the work of J. Q. A. Ward. It stands before the southwestern 
entrance of the Capitol grounds. The entire monument cost 
$62,500, $25,000 of which Was contributed by the Society of 
the Army of the Cumberland, and the remainder by the Govern- 
ment. 

In front of Kendall Green Chapel, in the grounds of the 
Columbia Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, is a bronze monu- 
ment to Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, the teacher who first opened 
the way for the intellectual advancement of those born without 
the sense of hearing. This group of Gallaudet and his first 
pupil, little Alice Cogswell, is the work of Daniel C. French. 
The statue was dedicated in 1887, the centennial year of the 
birth of Gallaudet, and was paid for by deaf students from 
every State and Territory in the Union. 

At Pennsylvania Avenue, Tenth and D. Streets, is a quaint 
likeness of Benjamin Franklin, designed by Ernst Plassman. 
The sculptor of the figure of Franklin was Jacque Jouvenal. 
This memorial was presented to the city by Mr. Stilson Hutchins, 
January 17, 1889. 

General Lafayette has been honored in America's Capital 
by the handsome bronze monument in Lafayette Square. Con- 
gress appropriated $50,000 for this memorial and the commis- 
sion for its execution was allotted to two French Sculptors, 
Alexander Falquiere and Antonin Mercie. Below Lafayette, on 
the pedestal, is America reaching up to hand him the sword 



522 History of the City of Washington 

of victory. Standing on the pedestal are Rochambeau, Dupor- 
tail, D'Estaing and De Grasse. This graceful monument was 
unveiled in 1890. 

The remaining three corners of Lafayette Square are also 
devoted to monuments to foreign heroes of the American Revolu- 
tion. These are the monuments to Rochambeau, by F. Hamar, 
for which Congress appropriated $22,500, unveiled May 24, 
1902; to Baron von Steuben, by Albert Jaegers, erected by 
Congress at a cost of $50,000, and unveiled December 7, 1910; 
and to Kosciusko, by Antoni Popiel, the gift of Polish-American 
citizens, dedicated May 11, 1910. 

In the Smithsonian grounds, is a memorial dedicated by the 
Photographic Association of America, to the memory of Louis J. 
M. Daguerre commemorating the first half century of photog- 
raphy, from 1839 to 1889. This monument, surmounted by a 
granite globe representing the earth with a bronze relief portrait 
of Daguerre, is the work of Jonathan S. Hartley, and was ded- 
icated August 15, 1890. 

At Pennsylvania Avenue and Seventh Street is a monument 
to General Winfield Scott Hancock, executed by Henry J. 
Ellicott. 

The unveiling took place May 12, 1896, with impressive cere- 
monies, opened by President Cleveland. 

This monument was a gift of the Government, $40,000 hav- 
ing been appropriated by Congress for its cost and that of the 
pedestal. 

A distinguished physician honored in the Capital city is 
Dr. Samuel D. Gross, whose bronze stands in the Smithsonian 
grounds. Dr. Gross was a famous surgeon, as well as teacher 
and author. This statue is the work of A. Sterling C alder, and 
was presented to the Government May 5, 1897, by the physicians 
and surgeons of the United States. Congress appropriated 
$1,500 for the pedestal. 

On the west side of Scott Circle is a standing figure of 
Daniel Webster, the gift of Mr. Stilson Hutchins. It was dedi- 
cated January 18, 1900. It is the work of G. Trentanove. The 
pedestal was erected by Congress at a cost of $4,000. 



History of the City of Washington 523 

On the east side of Scott Circle is a serai-circular memorial 
to the founder of Homeopathy, Christain S. F. Hahneman, by 
Charles H. Niehaus. The monument was dedicated June 21, 
1900. It was the gift of the American Institute of Homeopathy. 
Congress appropriated $4,000 for the foundation. 

In Iowa Circle at Rhode Island Avenue and 13th Street, 
is a bronze to General John A. Logan by Franklin Simmons. 
This monument was unveiled April 9, 1901, the ceremony being 
led by President McKinley. The oration of the day was deliv- 
ered by Senator Chauncey M. Depew of New York. 

This statue cost $65,000, of which sum $50,000 was appropri- 
ated by Congress and $15,000 by the Society of the Army of 
the Tennessee. 

At the intersection of Indiana Avenue, Third and D Streets, 
is .a large bronze by G. Trentanove, of General Albert Pike, 
erected by the Masonic fraternity and dedicated October 23, 
1901. 

The monument to General William T. Sherman, by Carl 
Rohl-Smith, in Sherman Park facing the south front of the 
Treasury Building, was unveiled October 15, 1903. This monu- 
ment was erected by the Society of the Army of the Tennessee 
which contributed $11,000, and the United States Government 
which contributed $80,000. On one side of the high pedestal 
is War, represented by a woman tearing her garment as she 
stands over the slain body of a soldier. On the opposite side 
of the pedestal is a figure of a woman, typifying Peace. At 
the four corners of the wide base of the statue are figures repre- 
senting soldiers of the cavalry, artillery, infantry and engineers. 

At Twenty-third and E Streets, at the Naval Museum, is 
a statue of Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of 
Independence. This monument was erected in 1904 by the 
American Medical Association. 

A monument to General George B. McClellan, by Frederick 
MacMonnies, stands in the little park surrounded by Connecticut 
Avenue, Columbia Road and California Street. It was dedicat- 
ed May 2, 1907, and is the gift of Congress which appropriated 
$60,000 and of the Society of the Army of the Potomac. 



524 History of the City of Washington 

At the intersection of Seventh and C Streets, Pennsylvania 
and Louisiana Avenues, stands the monument to Dr. Benjamin 
F. Stephenson, the projector of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic, which organization contributed the figures. The obelisk 
pedestal was erected by Congress at a cost of $10,000. The 
monument, which was designed by J. Massey Rhind, was unveiled 
July 3, 1908. 

At Connecticut Avenue and M Street is the monument to 
Henry W. Longfellow. This statue is a sedent bronze figure 
in a gown, the work of William Couper, and was unveiled May 
15, 1909. It is the gift of the Longfellow National Memorial 
Association. The pedestal was erected by Congress at a cost 
of $4,000. 

The animated equestrian statue of General Sheridan, by 
Gutzon Borglum, in Sheridan Circle at Massachusetts Avenue 
and Twenty-third Street, was erected by Congress at a cost of 
$60,000 and unveiled November 25, 1909. 

On the plaza of the Municipal Building, facing Pennsylvania 
Avenue stands a bronze memorial to Governor Alexander R. 
Shepherd. This is the work of W. S. J. Dunbar, a local sculp- 
tor, and was unveiled May 3, 1909. 

William Couper 's statue of John Witherspoon, one of the 
signers of the Declaration of Independence, stands at the inter- 
section of Connecticut Avenue, Eighteenth and L Streets. It 
was presented by the Witherspoon Memorial Association and 
unveiled May 20, 1909. Congress appropriated $4,000 for the 
pedestal. 

A splendid white marble memorial to Columbus stands in 
front of the Union Station. This monument was erected by 
Congress at a cost of $100,000. The architectural work was 
designed by Daniel H. Burnham and the sculptural work by 
Lorado Taft. It was dedicated June 6, 1912, by the Italian 
Ambassador. 

The idea of erecting this tribute to the great discoverer 
was originated by the Knights of Columbus. 

The work extends seventy feet wide east and west. In 
the center is a shaft forty-five feet high, surmounted by a 



History of the City of Washington 525 

sphere representing the world. Before this shaft is the figure 
of Columbus standing on the prow of a ship. He is wrapped 
in the folds of a cloak and looks ahead, over the carved head 
of a woman on the prow of the vessel, representing Discovery. 
On one side of the shaft is the hulking figure of an early- 
Caucasian, representing the Old World, while the opposite side 
has the figure of an Indian, which represents the New "World. 
On the side of the shaft opposite Columbus is a medallion con- 
taining the figures of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. 

At the foot of the 17th Street Speedway on the edge of 
the Tidal Basin has been erected a standing heroic bronze of 
John Paul Jones, by Charles H. Niehaus for which Congress 
appropriated $50,000. It was unveiled April 17, 1912. 

In Rock Creek Cemetery are several monuments which are 
notable works of art. The most striking of these is that by 
Augustus Saint Gaudens, erected to Mrs. Adams. A woman's 
figure heavily draped, sits on a granite boulder, with closed 
eyes and saddened face. The work is intended to be symbolic 
of Grief or Despair. 

Near the southeast corner of the new National Museum 
building in the Smithsonian grounds stands a vase erected by 
the Pomological Society to the memory of Andrew Jackson 
Downing who laid out the entire Mall, as well as the grounds 
of the White House and Lafayette Park in 1852, and who 
perished in the wreck of the steamer Henry Clay while the 
work was in progress. 

At the time that Congress made its appropriation for the 
Paul Jones monument, a similar amount was appropriated for 
the erection of a monument to Commodore John Barry, to stand 
facing 14th Street at the west end of Franklin Park. This 
monument was unveiled May 16, 1914. It was designed by 
John J. Boyle. 

One war hero not connected with our own country, Frederick 
the Great, of Prussia, is commemorated by a statue, presented 
to America by Emperor William of Germany, which stands in 
the grounds of the War College, at the Washington barracks. 



526 History of the City of Washington 

A graceful little fountain has lately been erected on the 
northwest margin of the ellipse south of the White House, to the 
memory of two of the victims of the terrible Titanic catastrophe 
of April 15, 1912, Francis D. Millet and Major Archibald W. 
Butt of the United States Army. Mr. Millet was a member 
of the Commission of Fine Arts. The little fountain was 
designed by two members of the Art Commission, Daniel C. 
French and Thomas Hastings. 

The sedent statue of Archbishop John Carroll, the founder 
of Georgetown University, located in front of the entrance to 
the main college building was erected by the alumni of 
the University and unveiled on May 4, 1912. It was the work of 
Mr. Jerome Conner of Washington. 

In the terraced grounds of the nitration plant stands the 
memorial fountain erected in 1913 by the citizens of Michigan 
in honor of Senator James McMillan of that State, who died in 
1902, and who was for ten years the Chairman of the Senate 
Committee on the District of Columbia. 

Congress has appropriated $240,000 for a monument to 
General U. S. Grant. The commission for the sculptural work 
was given to Henry M. Shrady, and that for the architectural 
work to Edward Pearce Casey. The elaborately planned memo- 
rial was begun at the eastern end of the Botanical Gardens 
in the Mall. The long pedestal has been erected, and on one 
wing of it has been placed a spirited group of field artillery. 

For many years the question of creating some adequate 
memorial to Abraham Lincoln of a national character has been 
under consideration by the American people, and numerous and 
varied projects having this purpose in view, have been from 
time to time advanced. This problem was thoroughly consid- 
ered by the Park Commission in 1901 and the results of the 
deliberations of that body were a recommendation in favor of 
a memorial structure of a Grecian type to be erected on the 
west end of Potomac Park on the central line of the Capitol 
and Washington Monument, the connection between the Monu- 
ment and the Memorial to be a setting of parkways, basins, 
fountains, and trees in continuation of the parkway proposed 



History of the City of Washington 527 

by the Commission to connect the Monument and the Capitol. 
By act approved February 9, 1911, Congress created the Lin- 
coln Memorial Commission to consist of William H. Taft, then 
President of the United States, Shelby M. Cullom, Senator from 
Illinois who had been mainly instrumental in bringing this 
legislation to a head, Joseph G-. Cannon, of Illinois, Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, Senator Peabody Wetmore, of 
Rhode Island, Representative Samuel Walker McCall, of Massa- 
chusetts, Senator Hernando D. Money of Mississippi, and 
Representative Champ Clark, of Missouri. This Commission 
was directed to determine upon a location, plan and design for 
a monument or memorial in the City of Washington to the 
memory of Abraham Lincoln to cost not exceeding two million 
dollars. Senator Cullom was made Resident Commissioner. He 
died January 28, 1914, and Ex-Senator Joseph C. S. Blackburn 
was appointed to succeed him. Senator Money died on Septem- 
ber 18, 1912, and his place was filled by the appointment of 
Senator Thomas S. Martin of Virginia. 

At its first meeting the Commission passed a resolution 
calling upon the Commission of Fine Arts to make suggestions 
to the Memorial Commission as to the locations, plans and 
designs for the memorial and particularly that it give its advice 
as to the following locations: the axis of Delaware Avenue at 
some point between the Capitol and the Union Station Plaza; 
the axis of the new avenue authorized to be constructed between 
the Peace Monument and the Union Station Plaza; some portion 
of the proposed plaza between the Capitol and the Union Station ; 
the site in Potomac Park recommended by the Park Commis- 
sion in 1901; and also any other location which they might 
deem suitable. The Commission of Fine Arts was also requested 
to make suggestions in connection with each location as to a 
memorial suited to it and within the limit of cost authorized 
by the act, and also as to the best method of selecting the artists, 
sculptors and architects and making and executing the proper 
designs. 

To the questions thus submitted to it, the Commission of 
Fine Arts gave most attentive study for ;i period covering four 



528 History of the City of Washington 

months. In its report, which it submitted on July 17, 1911, the 
Commission recommended the Potomac Park site. With refer- 
ence to the type of memorial to be erected the Commission 
advised that to avoid competition with the Capitol or the Wash- 
ington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial should not include a 
dome and should not be characterized by great height but by 
strong horizontal lines. 

Pending the consideration of the questions submitted to 
the Commission of Fine Arts, the Memorial Commission, on 
the advice of the former, selected Mr. Henry Bacon, an archi- 
tect of New York City, to prepare designs for a memorial with 
the view to its location on the site at Potomac Park, and soon 
after employed Mr. John Russell Pope, an architect of New 
York City, to prepare designs contemplating the placing of the 
memorial on the Soldiers' Home Grounds on the axis of North 
Capitol Street, and also for a memorial suitable to be located 
on the crest of 16th Street hill. 

In December, 1911, these architects submitted complete 
designs, including prospective plans and models for the 3 sites 
mentioned. After the submission of these designs the Memorial 
Commission on February 3, 1912, adopted the site on the axis 
of the Capitol and Washington Monument in Potomac Park at 
a point near the river bank as best suited for the location of 
the memorial. The two architects above nominated were then 
requested by the Commission, after conference, to prepare and 
submit new designs or modifications of those already submitted, 
all having in view the site in Potomac Park, and in response to 
this request Mr. Bacon submitted three designs, one of them 
a slight modification of his first design, and Mr. Pope submitted 
a modification of his original design for the memorial contem- 
plating the location in the Soldiers' Home Grounds, which he 
adapted to the site in Potomac Park. Mr. Pope also submitted 
a number of sketches of alternate designs for the latter site. 

These designs were submitted to the Commission of Fine 
Arts which reported on March 23, 1912, recommending the 
adoption of one of the three submitted by Mr. Bacon, and recom- 
mending also the employment of Mr. Bacon as architect for the 



History of the City of Washington 529 

memorial. These recommendations were adopted by the Memo- 
rial Commission on April 16, 1912. Certain modifications were 
suggested to Mr. Bacon in the design submitted by him and he 
prepared a new design embodying these modifications and sub- 
mitted it to the Commission which unanimously recommended 
that Congress approve the construction of the memorial upon 
the Potomac site in accordance with Mr. Bacon's last design. 



CHAPTER XV 



The Press 

The earliest paper published in what is now the District of 
Columbia is believed to have been the Weekly Ledger, a George- 
town publication which was started in 1790. In 1796, a second 
Georgetown paper, the Sentinel of Liberty appeared, the pub- 
lishers being Green, English and Company. 

The first newspaper to be published in the City of "Wash- 
ington was the "Washington Gazette, a semi-weekly paper first 
published on June 15, 1796 by Benjamin More, a bookseller. On 
July 26, 1797, this paper was discontinued for lack of support. 
It re-appeared on the 16th of the following September as a week- 
ly, but lack of patronage forced its final discontinuance on 
March 24, 1798. 

On October 31, 1800, appeared the first publication of the 
National Intelligencer. The editor and proprietor was Samuel 
Harrison Smith and the paper was published in one of a row of 
brick buildings on New Jersey Avenue, erected by Thomas Law. 
The paper from its first publication until January 1, 1813, ap- 
peared three times each week. It early announced and through- 
out its career maintained a policy, at variance with the custom of 
the times, of abstinance from unnecessary personal abuse joined 
with the fullest publicity concerning public men and measures. 

It is due to the enterprise of Mr. Smith that the early de- 
bates of Congress have been preserved to posterity. At first Mr. 
Smith was denied by the Speaker of the House, Theodore Sedg- 
wick, of Massachusetts, permission to publish other than pro- 
ceedings which had reached a matured state and upon which the 
House had come to a conclusion. In 1809, however, Mr. Joseph 
Gales, Jr., afterwards Mayor of the city, removed to "Washing- 
ton from Raleigh, North Carolina, and entered the employ of Mr. 



History of the City of Washington 531 

Smith as stenographic reporter of the proceedings in Congress. 
Mr. Gales was shortly afterwards taken into partnership by Mr. 
Smith, and in September, 1810, he purchased Mr. Smith's inter- 
est in the paper. In October, 1812, Mr. Gales associated with 
himself in the publication of the Intelligencer his brother-in-law, 
"William Winston Seaton, of King William County, Virginia, who 
had previously been connected with the Virginia Patriot at Kich- 
mond, and on the first of the following year the paper came out 
as the Daily National Intelligencer. Mr. Seaton aided greatly in 
the work of reporting the debates of Congress, he taking one 
branch and Mr. Gales the other. Among the famous speeches 
for which the country is indebted to these men are those which 
occurred during the debates between Webster and Hayn in 
1830. 

Owing to the partial destruction of the office of the paper by 
the British in 1814, the paper was discontinued from August 24 
to October 1 of that year. 

The paper continued under the ownership of Messrs. Gales 
and Seaton until the death of Mr. Gales at Eckington, his country 
home, on July 21, 1860. On August 31 of that year, Mr. James 
C. Welling, who had been associated with the paper for about ten 
years, became associated with Mr. Seaton in the editorship of the 
paper. On December 31, 1864, Mr. Seaton and Mr. Welling were 
succeeded as editors and proprietors by Messrs. Snow, Coyle and 
Company. The new proprietors on April 1, 1865, enlarged the 
paper to a seven column sheet and later consolidated with it the 
Express, changing the name to the "Intelligencer and Express." 
Oh November 30, 1869, the paper was purchased by Alexander 
Delmar, then late Chief of the Bureau of Statistics of the Treas- 
ury Department. The publication of the paper was discontinued 
under Mr. Delmar 's ownership on January 10, 1870. 

The Intelligencer supported Mr. Jefferson for the presidency 
to succeed President John Adams. It continued to support the 
various administrations in power until President Jackson's time, 
when it opposed President Jackson on account of his political ap- 
pointments. Although supporting President Harrison, it op- 
posed Tyler on account of his alleged abandonment of the prin- 



532 History of the City of Washington 

eiples on which he was elected, and took sides with Henry Clay 
and the Whig party. It vigorously opposed the annexation of 
Texas and in consequence incurred the enmity of John C. Cal- 
houn, then Secretary of State. It opposed President Taylor and 
espoused the cause of Daniel Webster, hut upon the succession of 
Vice-President Fillmore to the presidency after the death of 
President Taylor and the appointment of Daniel Webster as Sec- 
retary of State, the National Intelligencer again became the 
organ of the administration. It was the last of the Whig organs 
and with the incoming of President Pierce was succeeded as the 
representative of the administration, by the Union. In 1860 it 
supported John Bell for the Presidency against Abraham Lincoln 
on account of Lincoln's anti-slavery views, and again in 1864 
supported General McClellan as against President Lincoln on the 
same grounds. It was at all times loyal to the Union but advo- 
cated the restoration of "the Union as it was" without the abol- 
ishment of slavery. Throughout the reconstruction period the 
Intelligencer was an ardent supporter of Andrew Johnson and 
championed the reconstruction methods instituted by Johnson 
until its discontinuance in 1870. 

On August 18, 1834, the Washington Mirror was first pub- 
lished by William Thompson, an Englishman. The name was 
afterwards changed to the Metropolitan, and under the editor- 
ship of Rufus Dawes the paper acquired a considerable degree of 
popularity. In 1836, it was merged into the United States Tele- 
graph which had been established in 1826 by Duff Green. The 
Telegraph was the organ of the administration during the presi- 
dency of Andrew Jackson, though it was said by Thomas H. 
Benton that it was more the organ of John C. Calhoun than of 
President Jackson. 

The Globe was established in December, 1830, by Franklin 
P. Blair. Mr. Blair came to Washington and started the paper 
at the instigation of President Jackson who had been much im- 
pressed by a vigorous article against nullification written by Mr. 
Blair, which had appeared in the Frankfort, Kentucky, Argus. 
Shortly following its establishment, Mr. Blair took into partner- 
ship John C. Rives, and employed Amos Kendall as an editorial 



History of the City of Washington 533 

writer. Mr. Kendall was the President's spokesman on the 
Globe, voicing the President's views in the vigorous broadside 
editorials which immediately became a prominent feature of the 
paper. For eleven years following its establishment the Globe 
received the benefit of the public printing and advertising, which 
was transferred to the National Intelligencer with the incoming 
of the nomination of James K. Polk, a Democratic candidate for 
ceived the contracts for printing the Congressional debates. In 
1849 the interest of Mr. Blair was acquired by Mr. Rives who 
continued to publish the paper until his death when it was con- 
tinued by his sons. 

The establishment of the "Washington Union was the result 
of the nomination of James K. Polk, a Democratic candidate for 
the presidency, over Martin Van Buren. Prior to this event, the 
Globe had supported Van Buren for the nomination and the 
Richmond Enquirer and the Nashville Union had supported 
Polk. From these last mentioned papers came to Washington 
in 1845, Thomas Ritchie and John P. Heiss, who, on May 1, 1845, 
issued the first number of the Washington Union, and later pur- 
chased the Globe. The Union continued to represent the admin- 
istration until 1849, when the Whig Party returned to power, 
and under President Fillmore the National Intelligencer was re- 
stored to its former position of organ of the administration. The 
Union was again made the government organ under President 
Pierce and so continued through the administration of President 
Buchanan. In 1859 it was sold by Mr. Ritchie to A. J. Donel- 
son who had been Private Secretary to President Jackson, 
charge d'affaires to Texas, and Minister to Prussia and the Ger- 
manic Federation. Mr. Donelson shortly afterwards sold the 
paper to George W. Bowman who changed the name to the "Con- 
stitution." It was purchased in 1860 by William M. Browne 
who discontinued it on January 31, 1861. 

The Republic was established in 1849, immediately after the 
inauguration of President Taylor. Its first editors were Alex- 
ander Bullitt, formerly of the New Orleans Picayune, and John 
Sargent of the New York Courier and Enquirer. It appears to 



534 History of the City of Washington 

have been short lived and to have gone out of existence upon 
the death of President Taylor. 

The National Era was an anti-slavery publication which 
first appeared on January 7, 1847, under the editorship of Dr. 
Gamaliel Bailey, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The publishers were Mar- 
tin Buel and William Blanchard. It was established by means of 
a fund of $20,000 which had been raised by the advocates of 
freedom headed by Lewis Tappan and represented in a clerical 
capacity by Lewis Clephane. Dr. Bailey was a prominent aboli- 
tionist, having been associated in the editorship of the Cincin- 
nati Philanthropist with James G. Birney, who afterwards, as 
nominee of the abolition party for the presidency, caused the 
defeat of Henry Clay. While Dr. Bailey was connected with 
the Philanthropist that paper had twice been the victim of mobs 
which had destroyed its office and thrown its type into the Ohio 
River. The National Era played a prominent part in the aboli- 
tionists' movement. Its regular corresponding editor was John 
G-. Whittier. Other contributors were Theodore Parker, Alice 
Phoebe Gary, Dr. Pierpont, William D. Gallagher and H. B. 
Stanton, author of "Modern Reformers." A series of sketches 
of men and things about Washington was contributed by Dr. 
James Houston, an accomplished Irishman. Later the Era num- 
bered among its contributors Edward Everett Hale, Salmon P. 
Chase, Charles Sumner, Wendell Phillips, Harriet Beecher 
Stowe, Gail Hamilton and Mrs. Bailey, the wife of the editor. 
Through its columns Mrs. Stowe 's Uncle Tom's Cabin first ap- 
peared as a serial story in 1851. 

In April, 1848, the office of the National Era was attacked 
by a mob as the result of an attempted escape by a party of 
slaves in a sloop named The Pearl which succeeded in getting 
as far as Cornfield Harbor near the mouth of the Potomac. The 
office of the Era was at this time on 7th Street between F and G 
Streets. It was afterwards removed to the Tremont House at the 
corner of 2nd Street and Indiana Avenue, and at this place 
which was occupied also by the Republican headquarters, the 
paper was again slightly damaged by a mob following the elec- 
tion of Mr. Lincoln to the presidency. 



History of the City of Washington 535 

The National Republican first appeared on Monday, Novem- 
ber 26, 1860, under the ownership of a company at the head of 
which was Mr. Lewis Clephane. During the war the paper 
vigorously supported the Government. In 1867 or 1868, it was 
acquired by William J. Murtagh and S. P. Hanscom and was 
continued under the editorship of the latter. It was subse- 
quently edited in turn by Mr. Harris, formerly of the Patriot, 
Mr. Connery, and John P. Foley. 

The Daily Patriot was started as a conservative Democratic 
paper by a syndicate of wealthy Eastern men under the editor- 
ship of James E. Harvey with Oscar K. Harris in charge of the 
news department and Ex-Mayor James G. Berrett as business 
manager. These men were succeeded soon after by A. G. Allen 
as editor-in-chief and Louis Bagger as local editor under the 
general managership of Col. W. H. Philip, J. C. McGuire and 
R T. Merrick. 

The Evening Star was established by Capt. J. B. Tait in 
December, 1852, a specimen issue being put out on the 4th of 
that month and the regular daily issue first appearing on the 
16th. It consisted of four pages with a total of twenty col- 
umns, and its circulation slightly more than 800. It was printed 
on a hand press. Its first office was at the corner of 6th Street 
and Pennsylvania Avenue. In May, 1854, it was removed to the 
second story of a blacksmith shop on D Street near 12th Street, 
northwest, the present site of the Franklin engine house. Soon 
thereafter Mr. Tait sold the paper to W. D. Wallach and W. H. 
Hope, Mr. Wallach soon after acquiring entire ownership. In 
1854 the office was removed to the southwest corner of Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue and 11th Street, the present site of the Post Office 
Department. In 1855 Mr. Crosby S. Noyes became associated 
with Mr. Wallach on the paper and in 1863 a Hoe rotary press 
was installed. In 1867 the paper was sold for $110,000 by Mr. 
Wallach to a syndicate composed of Crosby S. Noyes, S. H. 
Kauffman, A. R. Shepherd, Clarence Baker and George W. 
Adams. These gentlemen were incorporated into the Evening 
Star Newspaper Company by a special Act of Congress in 1868. 
In 1881 the Star acquired the ground and buildings at the north- 



536 History of the City of Washington 

west corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 11th Street, the site 
of its present structure, and installed what was then a modern 
perfecting press and folding machine. In 1890 the company- 
erected a four-story building on 11th Street adjoining its former 
building and shortly afterwards acquired the property adjoin- 
ing its holdings on Pennsylvania Avenue. On April 13, 1892, 
the paper suffered severely from a fire but its publication was 
not discontinued on this account. The present building at Penn- 
sylvania Avenue and 11th Street was erected in 1899, and occu- 
pied by the Star on July 1, 1900. The Sunday morning edition 
of the Star was inaugurated on March 26, 1905. 

The Washington Critic originated as a theater program. It 
was published as an independent evening daily from 1868, with 
the exception of a short period in 1888, when it appeared under 
the ownership of Stilson Hutchins as the Evening Post, until 
May 14, 1891, when its equipment and United Press franchise 
were purchased by the Evening Star Newspaper Company at a 
receiver's sale. It was owned successively by Ringwalt, Hack 
and Miller, by Hallett Kilbourn, and by Richard Weightman 
and his associates. 

The Daily Morning Chronicle which had been started in 
1861 by John W. Forney of the Philadelphia Press as the Sun- 
day Morning Chronical under the editorship of Joseph A. Ware, 
became a daily in 1863. It was acquired in 1870 by John M. 
Morris, formerly clerk of the United States Senate, who was also 
proprietor of the South Carolina Republican. In 1882 the 
Chronicle was acquired by John Q. Thompson and Company. 

The Washington Post first appeared on December 6, 1877, 
under the ownership of Mr. Stilson Hutchins. At that time the 
morning newspapers of Washington were the National Republi- 
can, owned by A. M. Clapp and Company, and printed in what 
is now the Southern Railway Building, at 13th and Pennsylvania 
Avenue, northwest; and the National Union, published by ex- 
Congressman John Lynch, of Maine, in the old Congressional 
Globe Building on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue, be- 
tween Third and Four-and-a-Half Streets. The evening papers 
were the Evening Star, and the Critic. None of these dailies 



History of the City of Washington 537 

then had Sunday issues. In the Sunday field were the Sunday 
Chronicle, the Sunday Gazette, the Sunday Republic, the Sun- 
day Herald, and the Capital. The latter under the ownership 
of Don Piatt had acquired a national reputation. 

The Post was started in the building at 916 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, formerly occupied by the Chronicle which had gone out 
of existence some months previously. The Managing Editor 
was Col. John A. Cockerill, who had previously been the Editor 
of the Cincinnati Enquirer. On the editorial staff were A. C. 
Buell, Montague Marks, Captain Charles H. Allen, and, for a 
time, Joseph Pulitzer, who afterwards acquired the St. Louis 
Post-Despatch and the New York World. 

In May, 1878, Mr. Hutchins purchased the National Union, 
which he consolidated with the Post, and moved the Post to the 
Globe Building on Pennsylvania Avenue. Immediately after 
this Col. Cockerill resigned to become the Editor of the Baltimore 
Gazette, and Mr. Walter Stilson Hutchins became Managing 
Editor, in which position he remained continuously, except for 
several absences due to illness, throughout the period of his 
father's ownership of the paper. 

In 1879 the Post inaugurated a Sunday morning edition and 
became the first seven-day paper in Washington. 

In 1880 Mr Hutchins bought the building on the Peter 
Force property at the northeast corner of 10th and D Streets, 
northwest. This building was destroyed by fire in July, 1885, 
and was immediately replaced. 

In 1887 Mr. Hutchins purchased the National Republican 
and merged it with the Post, which thus became, and remained 
until the appearance of the Times in 1894, the only morning 
paper in Washington. During the later years of the Post under 
Mr. Hutchins' ownership its staff numbered among other no- 
table men Henry L. West ; Captain Page McCarty, who had been 
one of the principals in the celebrated Mordecai-McCarty duel in 
1873, in which the former was killed, the last prominent Vir- 
ginia duel; Maurice Splain, at present Marshal of the District 
of Columbia; General George H. Harries; Richard Sylvester, 



538 History of the City of Washington 

the father of the present Chief of Police; Richard Weightman, 
grandson of former Mayor Weightman ; and two afterwards well 
known women contributors — Mollie Elliott Sewall and Jeanette 
Duncan. 

On January 1, 1889, the Post was sold to a syndicate headed 
by Frank Hatton and Beriah Wilkins. About two years later 
it removed to its present quarters at 1340 E Street, northwest. 

In 1888 Mr. Hutchins purchased the Evening Critic and 
issued it for some months as the Evening Post. It was later 
sold and re-established under its former name. 

In October, 1905, the Post was purchased by John R. Mc- 
Lean. The Post has always been Democratic in politics and for 
many years was generally recognized as the National Democratic 
Organ. 

The Washington Times was started as a co-operative enter- 
prize in 1894 under the editorship of Herbert J. Browne by a 
number of union printers who had been thrown out of work by 
the introduction of linotype machines. Shares were issued at 
$10 each and a capital of $1,800 subscribed. The first issue ap- 
peared on March 17, 1894. The paper was first published in the 
building formerly occupied by the Washington Post at 10th and 
D Streets, northwest. After three months of co-operative own- 
ership the paper was purchased by Ex-Congressman C. G. Conn, 
of Elkhart, Indiana, who removed it to a building at 11th and E 
streets, northwest, and added an evening and a Sunday morn- 
ing edition in 1896. In 1897 Mr. Conn sold the paper to Mr. 
Stilson Hutchins, who took it back to its former quarters, and 
issued it for four years and a half under the management of 
Mr. Walter Stilson Hutchins, as a morning, evening and Sunday 
morning paper. In November, 1901, the Times was bought by 
Mr. Frank A. Munsey, who discontinued the morning daily 
edition and changed the Sunday morning to a Sunday after- 
noon edition. In 1905, the paper removed to its present quarters 
at 1329 E Street, northwest. The Times has since been pub- 
lished as a one-cent Sunday afternoon paper. 

The Washington Herald was started in 1905 through the 
efforts of Mr. Scott C. Bone, formerly Managing Editor of the 



History of the City of Washington 539 

"Washington Post, who became the first Editor-in-Chief of the 
paper. Its first issue appeared on October 8, 1906. In 1910 
Mr. Henry L. West, on retiring as District Commissioner, ac- 
quired a large interest in the Herald and late in 1910 Mr. Bone 
severed his connection with the paper to take up the editorship 
of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In 1912 Mr. West withdrew 
from the Herald and in October, 1913, Mr. C. T. Brainard of 
New York bought a controlling interest in its stock. 

The Herald has always been a politically independent morn- 
ing paper. It was first published on 15th Street, between New 
York Avenue and H Street, northwest, but soon moved to its 
present location on New York Avenue between 13th and 14th 
Streets, northwest. 

The Real Estate and Court Record, a daily, has been in 
continuous existence over a hundred years, the precise date of its 
establishment not being known. When started it was a single 
sheet about six by eight inches in size. 

The publication of the Congressional Record by the Gov- 
ernment was begun in 1841, when, upon the inauguration of 
President Harrison, the public printing was taken from the 
Globe which had held it for eleven years. 



CHAPTER XVI 



History of Banking 

The bank of Columbia was established at Georgetown in 
1793 and was the first banking institution within what afterward 
became the District of Columbia. It was established by Samuel 
Blodgett, assisted by Mr. Stoddert and Governor Johnson, of 
Fredericktown. Samuel Hannon was its first cashier. The last 
legislation by Congress relating to this bank was approved Feb- 
ruary 25, 1836, by which its charter was extended to March 4, 
1839. It was also provided that no discounts should be made 
except such as might be deemed proper to renew such notes as 
had already been discounted, and that no more promissory notes 
should be put in circulation. This legislation also provided that 
instead of a president and nine directors, as then required by 
law, a board should be elected on the first Thursday in March, 
1836, and each year thereafter, so long as the law itself remained 
in force, who should elect one of themselves president; and the 
stockholders were authorized to choose trustees to wind up the 
affairs. It is probable that this bank ceased to exist about 1839. 

Meetings of the president and directors of the Bank of the 
United States for the election of directors of the office of dis- 
count and deposit for the District of Columbia, were held, and 
such directors duly elected on February 4, 1806 ; February 3, 
1807, February 2, 1808, February 7, 1809, and February 6, 1810. 
The first directors were Joseph Carleton, Thomas Tingey, 
"William Brent, James D, Barry, John P. Van Ness, Caleb Swan, 
Thomas Munroe, Joseph Nourse, David Peter, William Stewart, 
Lewis Leblois, Benjamin Shreve, Jr., and Phileas Janney. On 
the third of March, John P. Van Ness was elected president of 
the board, and was annually re-elected until the expiration of 
the charter in 1811. 



History of the City of Washington 541 

The election of February 6, 1810, appears to have been the 
last election of officers for the branch of the Bank of the United 
States in the District of Columbia ; and the Bank itself soon be- 
came extinct through the failure of Congress to renew its 
charter. 

After the expiration of the charter of this bank, in 1811, the 
business of the office of discount and deposit in Washington was 
conducted for a time by a temporary board of agents, of which 
John P. Van Ness was chairman. Still later, a committee was 
appointed to manage the business, with a view of settling its 
affairs. This having been accomplished, it was soon found desir- 
able to make an attempt to establish another bank in Washing- 
ton, as there was then but one little bank, on Capitol Hill, which 
had not funds sufficient for the business of its vicinity. 

At a meeting, held in Davis's Hotel, January 3, 1814, of the 
stockholders of a new bank, which was named "The Bank of the 
Metropolis," John P. Van Ness was chosen president of the new 
bank and Alexander Keer cashier. The location of this bank 
was at the corner of F and Fifteenth Streets, west of the Treas- 
ury building. Toward the close of the War of 1812-15, when 
General Jackson made an appeal for funds with which to pay 
the American soldiers, this bank loaned largely to the Govern- 
ment. After General Jackson became President of the United 
States, he kept his private accounts with this bank, and after 
the removal of the deposits from the United States Bank this 
bank was made a public depository. At length, it was organized 
under the National Banking law as the National Metropolitan 
Bank, with John B. Blake president and Moses Kelly cashier. 
Mr. Blake remained president until 1874, when he was succeeded 
by John W. Thompson. Mr. Thompson was succeeded in the 
presidency of this bank by E. Southard Parker, in 1901. Mr. 
Parker retired from the presidency of the Columbia National 
Bank in 1897, and became affiliated with the National Metropoli- 
tan, first as cashier, then as first vice-president. He was elected 
president and served as such until the annual election of 1909, 
when George White was elected to succeed him. At that time a 
controlling interest in the stock passed into the hands of a new 



542 History of the City of Washington 

set of financiers and the policy and management of the bank 
changed. Negotiations culminated in 1904 in which the Citi- 
zens' National Bank was absorbed. The name "National Met- 
ropolitan Bank" was changed at that time to "National Metro- 
politan Citizens' Bank," which was retained but two years when 
the original name was restored. 

The Metropolitan Bank occupied the building owned by the 
Citizens' Bank after the merger, until the new bank building 
which it now occupies was finished. 

The Bank of Washington was chartered in 1809, and was the 
first bank established in the City of Washington. The capital 
stock was $100,000. Daniel Carroll, of Duddington, was its first 
president, and Samuel Eliot, Jr., its first cashier. 

In January, 1886, this institution was organized as the "Na- 
tional Bank of Washington." 

In the early part of 1907, some of the younger stockholders 
and directors sought to enlarge the capital of the bank and to 
inject into its management a little larger activity. The bank at 
that time was ultra-conservative in management, and the younger 
men affiliated with it feared loss of power and prestige because of 
its energetic competitor the Central National Bank. 

As soon as it was learned that the President and a majority 
of the old directors were averse to any change in capitalization 
or departure from the established order of things, negotiations 
began with President Clarence P. Norment and other affiliated 
with the Central National Bank, for the purchase of control of 
the Bank of Washington. This was gradually brought about 
within a few months, and at the annual meeting of the Bank of 
Washington, in 1907, new directors were elected by the interests 
connected with the Central Bank. The actual merger was ef- 
fected in April, the charter of the Central Bank surrendered, 
and the two institutions united under the charter of the National 
Bank of Washington. The merged bank took possession of the 
banking house of the older bank and the Central Bank building 
was retained merely as an investment. 

In October, 1908, the stockholders voted to increase the capi- 
tal stock from $700,000 to $1,050,000 which approximately rep- 



History of the City of Washington 543 

resented the capital of the merged banks with the addition of the 
surplus of the Bank of Washington. The new stock was prac- 
tically all taken by the stockholders of the two banks, by ex- 
change and purchase on the basis of $150 a share. 

The Union Bank of Georgetown, District of Columbia, was 
chartered by Congress, March 11, 1811. The capital stock of the 
bank was $500,000, in $50 shares. For most of the time during 
the existence of this bank, Robert Beverly was its president, and 
David English appears to have been cashier during its entire 
existence. In 1840, it went into liquidation, but its charter was 
extended from time to time until 1849, to allow its affairs to be 
fully settled. 

The Central Bank of Georgetown and Washington was char- 
tered March 3; 1817, and when organized John Tayloe was presi- 
dent, and A. R. Levering, cashier. Mr. Tayloe resigned the presi- 
dency in May, 1818, and was succeeded by Francis Dodge, who 
remained president during the bank's short existence. March 2, 
1821, Congress passed an Act authorizing this bank to pay off its 
debts and close its affairs, there being then too many banks in the 
District of Columbia. 

The Farmers and Mechanics ' Bank of Georgetown was start- 
ed in 1814, at a meeting held February 15, at Crawford's Hotel. 
William Marbury was elected president, and Clement Smith, 
cashier. 

April 12, 1834, its board of directors resolved to suspend 
specie payments, saying, in explanation of their course: "They 
foresee that the present prostration of business confidence, and 
consequent derangement of the currency, must eventually re- 
duce them to this course, and they prefer to anticipate the 
event by yielding at once to the pressure, rather than to avert 
it by holding out during the short practical period of delay, 
at the expense of sacrificing the permanent interests of the 
bank. This measure is of temporary duration. The board see 
no necessity in the condition of the bank, for extending it 
beyond the present singular crisis in the banking history of the 
country, and confidently anticipate the resumption of active 
business on a specie basis as soon as this crisis shall pass away." 



544 History of the City of Washington 

The original charter of this bank was dated March 3, 1817, and 
it was renewed by Congress from time to time. On January 
15, 1872, this bank was organized as a national bank under the 
name it now bears, "The Farmers and Mechanics' National 
Bank of Georgetown." At the time of this organization, the 
following nine directors were elected: Henry M. Sweeney, 
Philip T. Berry, William C. Magee, Esau Pickrell, "William 
King, Francis Wheatley, John Davidson, Charles M. Matthews, 
and Evan Lyons. Henry M. Sweeney was continued as presi- 
dent of the bank. William Laird was continued as cashier, and 
served in the same capacity for forty years. 

Upon the retirement of Henry M. Sweeney, after nearly 
forty years' continuous service, S. Thomas Brown was elected 
president, September 10, 1896. He had been associated with 
the bank's affairs since 1876 and was made vice-president in 
1891. Mr. Brown died February 22, 1913, and William King 
was elected president on February 27. The building which the 
bank has occupied for many years on the south side of M Street 
in the heart of the business section of Georgetown was reno- 
vated and practically rebuilt in the spring and summer of 1912. 
The capital stock of the bank is $252,000. 

The Patriotic Bank was established in May, 1815. On 
June 7, Kobert Brent was chosen president, and Overton Carr, 
cashier. On June 28, 1825, this bank opened its business in 
its new banking house, at the intersection of Seventh and D 
Streets, northwest, opposite the office of the National Intelli- 
gencer. On June 1, 1829, the capital stock was $250,000 and 
its total assets $503,133.87. On April 14, 1834, at a special 
meeting, it was resolved that, in the opinion of the board of 
directors, the interest of the bank and its creditors required 
that the payment of specie for its obligations ought to be sus- 
pended. This bank resumed specie payment July 10, 1836, by 
unanimous resolution, but on May 12, 1837, again suspended 
specie payments in common with the other banks throughout 
the country. In 1846, this bank opened a savings department, 
receiving sums of $5 and upward, upon which it paid interest 



History of the City of Washington 545 

until the money was withdrawn. This was the first savings 
bank in Washington. 

During the war of 1812-15, with Great Britain, the finances 
of the country fell into confusion; the Government was obliged 
to borrow money at a ruinous rate of interest, giving $100 for 
$88, and taking the proceeds in the notes of banks which could 
not pay specie — the notes being worth from sixty to ninety 
cents on the dollar. Under such disastrous circumstances, the 
evils inflicted on the country by Vice-President Clinton's vote 
against the renewal of the charter of the old National Bank, 
already referred to, were plainly visible, and the necessity of 
such an institution was felt. At the session of Congress of 
1813-14, Hon. Felix Grundy, of Tennessee, introduced a measure 
into the House of Representatives looking to the establishment 
of a national bank. Action upon the question was not taken 
at that session ''for want of time." 

The bill, as presented in the House of " Representatives, 
November 14, 1814, named only Boston, New York, Philadelphia, 
Baltimore, Richmond, Charleston, and Pittsburgh, as places 
where subscriptions to the capital stock were to be received, 
thus confining the opportunities to subscribe almost exclusively 
to the Atlantic cities. This was far from satisfactory to many 
Western members of Congress, and Lexington, Kentucky, Nash- 
ville, Tennessee; Washington, District of Columbia; Raleigh, 
North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia, and New Brunswick, New 
Jersey, were also added, and Pittsburgh striken out. 

For Washington, District of Columbia, Robert Brent, Wal- 
ter Smith, and Thomas Swann were made the commissioners 
to receive subscriptions. Mr. Lewis made a motion contem- 
plating the location of the principal bank in Washington, but 
this was opposed by Mr. Fish, of New York, as the Ways and 
Means Committee had selected Philadelphia for that distinction. 
On January 2, 1815, the bill, on final action in the House of 
Representatives, was apparently carried by 81 affirmative to 
80 negative votes. But the Speaker, Hon. Langdon Cheves, 
from South Carolina, called attention to the rule of the House 
which permitted the Speaker to vote in two cases, of which 



546 History of the City of Washington 

this was one, and, declaring his conviction that the bill was a 
dangerous measure, cast his vote against it, and thus made the 
vote in the House a tie, and then decided that the bill was lost. 
On January 8, in an amended form, the bill passed the House 
by a vote of 120 to 38 ; and passed the Senate by a good major- 
ity. But on January 30, President Madison returned it, with- 
out his approval, to the Senate. 

On April 5, 1816, the bill passed the House of Representa- 
tives and the Senate, and on the 10th of the same month was 
signed by the President. Of those who voted for the bill more 
than two-thirds were "Republicans" or "Democrats," as they 
were indifferently called, in contradistinction to the "Federal- 
ists" who numbered about three-fourths of those who voted 
against the bill. But all of those who thus voted were not 
opposed to a national bank, but voted against the bill in the hope 
of throwing it again into the committee, and thus having an 
opportunity to eliminate the features which were objectionable 
to them. 

Under this act the president of the bank appointed as com- 
missioners to superintend the taking of subscriptions in "Wash- 
ington, General John Mason of Georgetown, Thomas Swann of 
Alexandria, and General John P. Van Ness of Washington. 
Subscription books were opened on Monday, July 1, 1816, and 
closed on the 23rd of the same mo nth. The amount subscribed 
here up to that time was $1,293,000, an amount far exceeding 
what had been anticipated. 

On January 27, 1817, the following gentlemen were ap- 
pointed directors of the Branch Bank of the United States in 
"Washington: Richard Cutts, Thomas Munroe, B. Thruston, 
R. C. Weightman, G. Bomford, G. Graham, and William Brent, 
of Washington; Thomas Tudor Tucker, J. Deane, and Thomas 
Swann, of Alexandria, and W. Smith, W. S. Chandler, and 
R. Parrott, of Georgetown. Richard Smith was chosen cashier, 
and the office began business on Saturday, February 8, 1817. 
General John P. Van Ness was elected president of this branch. 
This branch bank continued in successful operation until the 
main bank was slaughtered. 



History of the City of Washington 547 

During the Presidential campaign of 1828, at the close of 
which Andrew Jackson was elected to the Presidency, his ele- 
vation was not urged on the ground of the overthrow of the 
United States Bank; but soon after his inauguration, he became 
involved in a controversy with the management of that insti- 
tution. 

In his annual message to Congress he took occasion to 
observe that the time would soon arrive when the question of 
granting a re-charter to the Bank of the United States would 
come before that body, and that "both the constitutionality and 
expediency of such an institution had been well questioned." 
The portion of the message containing this assertion was re- 
ferred by the House to its Committee on Ways and Means, of 
which the Hon: George McDuffie, of South Carolina, was chair- 
man. The entire committee, including its chairman, who were 
supporters of General Jackson, gave grave consideration to the 
whole subject, and made a lengthy report, strongly in favor 
both of the constitutionality and expediency of a national bank. 

But President Jackson continued to press the matter upon 
the attention of Congress. In 1832, a bill passed both Houses 
of Congress, re-chartering the United States Bank. President 
Jackson vetoed this bill, but explicitly stated that, if he had 
been applied to, he would have furnished a plan of a charter 
which would have been constitutional. An attempt to pass the 
bill over the veto failed. 

In 1819 there was considerable excitement in reference to 
the suspension of specie payments. But one merchant and 
banker of Georgetown, named Romulus Riggs, publicly an- 
nounced that the banks of the District were paying specie for 
their notes, and also stated that he held himself responsible for 
the announcement. 

A peculiar feature of the monetary history of the District 
in 1820 was the practice of cutting paper dollars in such a way 
as to make change. In the latter part of May of this year, the 
banks adopted a resolution which was calculated to banish from 
circulation "such an inconvenient and unsightly sort of cur- 
rency, and to bring silver into use in its place. Those who have 



548 History of the City of Washington 

cut notes on hand would do well to exchange them for silver 
before tomorrow evening." This advice was published May 31, 
so that it appears that June 1 was the last day on which these 
cut notes were received at the banks. 

In 1834, only three of the banks in the District of Columbia 
suspended specie payments; the others were kept from doing 
so, by the presidents and directors of each, with the exception 
of the Bank of the Metropolis — each pledging his individual 
property as security for the debts of their respective banks. 
The Bank of the Metropolis had other means of accomplishing 
the same results. 

In 1835, when it was thought the completion of the Chesa- 
peake and Ohio Canal was near at hand, and the commerce of 
the cities of the District was about to be greatly increased it 
was plain that the means of carrying on such commerce was 
at the same time to be restricted. The National Bank, it was 
conceded, must fall, and of course its branch in Washington, 
which had furnished from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 of the cir- 
culating medium, must necessarily close its doors. Besides this, 
the charters of the several banks in the District would expire 
in March, 1836, and it was at least problematical what disposi- 
tion Congress would manifest toward them. It was supposed 
that even if these charters should be renewed they could not 
supply capital sufficeint for the necessities of trade, as they 
were small institutions, and the competition among them had 
caused a limited circulation of their notes. In order to meet 
these difficulties, it was thought necessary to establish a new 
bank to be called the Bank of the District of Columbia. 

In December, 1835, Congress took up the question of the 
re-charter of the banks of the District of Columbia, but not 
before it was necessary for them to do so, as the charters of 
all of them expired March 3, 1836. The bill re-chartering these 
banks was passed by Congress in June, 1836, their several 
charters being extended to July 3, 1838. In August, 1836, the 
Branch Bank of the United States, in Washington, Richard 
Smith, cashier, advertised its property for sale. 



History of the City of Washington 549 

On May 13, 1836, a notice was published in the press by 
the Bank of Washington, and by the Bank of the Metropolis in 
almost identical language, to the effect that notwithstanding 
information had reached Washington of the suspension of specie 
payments by the banks in New York, as well as by some of those 
in Philadelphia and Baltimore, they had determined to con- 
tinue to pay specie. 

The determination to suspend specie payments had been 
arrived at in New York on May 11, and was the result of the 
peculiar and great stringency of the times. 

One of the most instructive features of the times was with 
reference to the Government itself suspending specie payments. 
In Philadelphia, on May 12, some of that city's merchants 
called at the custom house to make payment of bonds, in order 
to avoid suit for non-payment, and offered notes on the Govern- 
ment deposit bank in payment of the bonds, which were refused, 
the Government requiring payment in gold or silver. On the 
same day, the custom house in Philadelphia, having certain 
liabilities to meet, refused to pay specie. On May 13, a mer- 
chant in Philadelphia, having to pay a certain sum to the Gov- 
ernment, tendered payment to the Government deposit bank in 
its own notes, and they were refused, the merchant being told 
that the Government would receive nothing but gold or silver. 

Throughout the country a national bank was the great 
desideratum. This was the constant and continuous refrain : 
' ' Give us a national bank. ' ' But that had been destroyed. The 
result was wide-spread distress. Bank notes in one part of the 
country were at a great discount, or entirely worthless, and 
the people in the various cities were busy in fabricating paper 
representatives of every part of a dollar. In Washington, all 
kinds of paper were in circulation, the extreme limit being 
reached in the issue of notes by a certain barber, who, upon 
the presentation of his notes for redemption, said: "I don't 
want anything to do with them; go and buy something with 
them!" 

May 16, 1837, the Bank of the Metropolis of Washington 
issued printed notices announcing its suspension of specie pay- 



550 History of the City of Washington 

ments, and then the Bank of "Washington, which had sustained 
for three days a heavy run upon it for specie, finding itself 
standing alone in the city, resolved to close its vaults. It was, 
however, then prepared to redeem its circulating notes to the 
last dollar; but it was thought that such a course would only 
tend to embarrass the mercantile classes, without relieving the 
public. This bank, therefore, also suspended on the 16th, and 
was thought to be the last bank to suspend in the Union. 

A law passed the House March 1, 1837, designed to counter- 
act the evil effects of the specie circular, by providing that, 
under certain conditions, and in accordance with certain regu- 
lations, no duties, taxes, or sums of money payable for lands 
should be collected or received otherwise than in the legal cur- 
rency of the United States, or in notes of banks which were 
payable and paid on demand in said legal currency of the 
United States, failed through its retention by the President 
until after Congress had adjourned. 

The banks of "Washington which had suspended specie pay- 
ments were requested by resolution of a public meeting, May 
20, 1837, to resume, so far as the $5 notes were concerned. To 
these resolutions each bank replied separately. The substance 
of each reply was, that while the bank was anxious to comply 
with the request, it could not be done with safety or with 
benefit to the public by any one bank or by the banks of any 
one city. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, unable 
to obtain corporation notes of $1 and $2, determined to issue 
notes of its own in sums of $2, $1 and fifty cents, in order to 
carry on its business. These notes, while serving the purposes 
of the company, found their way among the people generally, 
and "enabled them to transact their little everyday business." 
An Act was passed by Congress May 25, 1838, which was 
in part as follows: 

"Be it enacted, That the charters of the Farmers and 
Mechanics' Bank of Georgetown, the Bank of the Metropo- 
lis, the Patriotic Bank of Washington, the Bank of Wash- 
ington, and the Farmers' Bank of Alexandria, and the 
Bank of Potomac, in the town of Alexandria, be, and the 
same are hereby, extended to the 4th of July, 1840, pro- 



History of the City of Washington 551 

vided that said banks, each for itself, shall conform to the 

following conditions : 

"1. To cease receiving and paying out all paper cur- 
rency of a less denomination than $5, on or before the 

promulgation of this act. 

"2. To redeem all their notes of the denomination of 

$5, in gold or silver, from and after the first day of August 

of the present year. 

"3. To resume specie payments in full on or before 

the first day of January, 1839, or sooner if the principal 

banks of Baltimore and Richmond shall sooner resume 

payments in full." 

These conditions were justly considered very harsh by the 
banks. 

Specie payments were generally resumed early in 1839, 
but were soon again suspended, because there had been a con- 
tinual drain - upon the banks for specie to ship to Europe to 
meet a demand on the Bank of England for export in payment 
for grain because of bad English harvests. The banks, there- 
fore, thought it best to suspend, and thus to keep the gold and 
silver at home. On the 11th of October, the banks of the Dis- 
trict of Columbia, at a meeting of the representatives of several 
of them, passed the following resolutions: 

"Whereas, Information is received that the banks of 
Philadelphia and Baltimore have suspended specie pay- 
ments for the present, and it being the opinion of the 
several banks in the city of Washington here represented 
that the safety of the banks and the interests of the com- 
munity will not be promoted by an attempt to sustain 
specie payments while the suspension of Northern banks 
shall continue; and 

"Whereas, The banks here have abundant moans to 
meet all. their liabilities, yet as a considerable part of these 
means have become unavailable for the present, as specie 
funds, by the suspension of the banks of Philadelphia and 
Baltimore ; be it therefore 

"Resolved, That it be, and is hereby, recommended t( 
the several banks here represented, to suspend specie pay- 
ments for the present, with the pledge of said banks to 
resume as soon as the banks of Philadelphia and Baltimore 
shall do so." 



552 History of the City of Washington 

The Patriotic Bank was not represented at this meeting 
and did not suspend, as it had some time before reduced its 
circulation. 

On July 1, 1840, the question came up in Congress as to 
whether the charters of the banks of the District should be 
continued. 

Mr. Halleman introduced a bill to continue the charters 
of the banks in the District of Columbia for certain purposes: 
"That the provisions, restrictions, and enactments of the Act 
of Congress of May 25, 1838, entitled "An Act to Extend the 
Charter of the Union Bank of Georgetown, in the District of 
Columbia, be, and the same are hereby, extended to the Farmers 
and Mechanics ' Bank, of Georgetown ; the Bank of the Metropo- 
lis; the Bank of Washington; the Patriotic Bank, of Washing- 
ton; the Bank of Potomac, and the Farmers' Bank, of Alex- 
andria. Provided, that whenever in the original act the 4th 
of July, 1838, occurs, it shall be construed to mean the 4th of 
July, 1840, and whenever the 4th of July, 1842, occurs, it shall 
be construed to mean the 4th of July, 1844." 

On Friday, July 3, 1840, Mr. Underwood moved to amend 
the bill by adding: 

"That if the said banks, or any or either of them, shall, 
within ninety days from and after the passage of this act, 
resume specie payments, then the said banks, or such of 
them as shall so resume, shall be entitled to all the rights 
and privileges conferred by their present charters until 
the 4th of July, 1842, unless Congress shall at any time 
otherwise direct; but if such banks so resuming shall at 
any time after such resumption again suspend specie pay- 
ments, or refuse to pay any of their notes or other obliga- 
tions in specie, then such suspension or refusal shall operate 
as a forfeiture of their respective charters, except for the 
purpose of winding up their affairs, under the provisions 
and restrictions contained in this act ; and provided further, 
in all cases where the said banks, or either of them, there- 
after refuse payment of any of their notes or obligations, 
there shall be a summary remedy therefor before any 
justice or judge having jurisdiction of the case by giving 
five days' notice, wherein there shall be no supersedeas, 
stay, execution, or injunction, or certiorari allowed, nor 



History of the City of Washington 553 

any appeal, except upon an affidavit of merits by the presi- 
dent, cashier, or directors." 

This amendment was sustained and the bill as thus amended 
was passed and sent to the Senate. In this body it was reported 
without Mr. Underwood's amendment; was returned to the 
House, and there passed by a vote of 124 to 19 ; again sent to 
the Senate, and then to the President, for his signature. 

"When Congress adjourned, July 21, 1840, after having 
failed to take action looking to a continuance of the corporate 
existence of the banks, bank privileges were suspended in the 
District, on July 4. After that day no bank could reissue its 
notes, make any discounts or loans or incur or receive any new 
obligation. The result was that bank notes of any kind could 
scarcely be found in quantities sufficient to transact the daily 
business of the community. Not long after the result of the 
election of William Henry Harrison to the Presidency, and 
of John Tyler to the Vice-Presidency became known, a memo- 
rial to Congress was circulated for the signatures of merchants^ 
tradesmen, mechanics, and other citizens of Washington, set- 
ting forth, that "the condition of your memorialists resulting 
from the present state of the incorporate banks in the city of 
Washington is such as, in their opinion, calls for some effectual 
and speedy remedy to be applied by your honorable body." 

In the meantime, two of the banks of the District, the 
Bank of the Metropolis, and the Farmers and Mechanics' Bank 
of Georgetown, resolved to pay all their notes and other obliga- 
tions in specie, this action being taken on July 6, 1840. 

In order to effect a reform in the currency as soon as possi- 
ble, President Harrison called Congress together in extra ses- 
sion, and at this extra session Congress passed a bill providing 
for a "Fiscal Bank," which was only another name for a 
national bank, to be located in the City of Washington. Presi- 
dent Harrison died before the opportunity came for him to 
assist this necessary work for his signature, and the Vice- 
President, John Tyler, became the President. President Tyler, 
when the bill establishing the Fiscal Bank was presented to 
him for his signature, returned it to Congress with his objec- 



554 History of the City of Washington 

tions, two in number — first, that he was conscientiously opposed 
to a national bank, because in his view such an institution was 
clearly unconstitutional, and he had taken an oath to support 
and defend that sacred instrument. After the veto of the Fiscal 
Bank bill, Congress attempted to frame one which, as they 
understood it, was in accordance with the President's views as 
to what a national bank should be, giving to it the name of a 
"Fiscal Corporation," to be located within the District of 
Columbia, with a capital of $21,000,000. The bill providing 
for this Fiscal Corporation was likewise vetoed by the President, 
because he was unable to see the difference between a "Fiscal 
Bank" and a "Fiscal Corporation." If one was unconstitu- 
tional, so was the other. 

The bankable paper of the District at that time consisted 
of the notes of the banks of the District, certificates of deposit 
of those banks, and notes of the banks of Baltimore and of 
banks in cities north of Maryland. By far the greatest part 
of the bank circulation, however, was of the Virginia banks, 
which, for some reason that was not then clear, could not then 
be made bankable, except at a loss of $3 per hundred to the 
possessor. Besides this, there was a flood of the notes of the 
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, of denominations less 
than $5, which, up to near the latter part of 1841, circulated 
at par, and then becoming depreciated in Baltimore, they also, 
of course, settled in Washington to about ten per cent below 
par. So great was the loss and confusion that was occasioned, 
that the merchants of Baltimore agreed not to receive them in 
payment for anything except at their actual value. 

In January, 1842, the rates of discount in Washington 
were as follows : Baltimore and Ohio Railroad notes, 20 to 25 
per cent, discount ; Virginia notes, from 4 to 5 per cent, dis- 
count, specie was from 3 to 31/2 per cent, above Baltimore bank 
notes, while the notes of the banks of the District were equal 
to specie, and the certificates of deposit of the Patriotic Bank 
were equal to Baltimore bank notes. 

The District banks were honestly conducted. They paid 
specie often when other banks did not, and always when other 



History of the City of Washington 555 

banks did. They were at that time paying specie, and were 
quite as able to meet their engagements as any banks in the 
States. But the triumph of the enemies of the District banks 
was not permanent. In March, 1844, a bill to extend their 
charters was reported to the House of Representatives, which 
became a law June 17, 1844. This law, however, did not specific* 
ally extend the charters of any of the banks in the District of 
Columbia. It only provided that each of them might be party 
to a suit at law, by which debts due by or to any of them might 
be collected. 

Mr. William W. Corcoran commenced the brokerage busi- 
ness in the City of Washington, in 1837, in a small store, ten 
by sixteen feet in size, on Pennsylvania Avenue, near Fifteenth 
Street. His business here was eminently successful, and in 
1839 he moved to the old Bank of the Metropolis building, on 
the corner of Fifteenth and F Streets. In 1840, he received 
into partnership George W. Riggs, son of Elisha Riggs, of New 
York, broker, the firm name being Corcoran & Riggs. In 1845, 
Corcoran & Riggs purchased the old United States Bank build- 
ing, at the corner of Fifteenth Street and New York Avenue, 
together with all its property and effects uncollected. The busi- 
ness of this firm having been successful, Mr. Corcoran settled 
with all his old creditors of 1823. 

About this time, the house of Corcoran & Riggs took on its 
own account nearly all the loans made by the Government of 
the United States. July 1, 1848, Mr. George W. Riggs retired 
from the firm, and Elisha Riggs, also a son of Elisha Riggs, of 
New York, by another wife, was taken in as a junior partner. 
He remained in the firm until 1854. On the first of April of 
this year, Mr. Corcoran withdrew from the firm, and the busi- 
ness was continued by Mr. George W. Riggs, under the firm 
name of Riggs & Company, until his death, August 24, 1881. 

After the death of Mr. George W. Riggs, which occurred 
on August 24, 1881, the business of the bank was conducted 
under the same name by E. Francis Riggs, Thomas Eyde, 
Charles Carroll Glover and James M. Johnston. E. Francis 
Riggs withdrew from this bank as diivHor and manager in 



556 History of the City of Washington 



1904 and became identified with the interests of the Metropoli- 
tan Bank. His interests were taken over by John R. McLean. 

The Riggs Bank for many years occupied the old brick 
building at the northwest corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 
Fifteenth Street, but purchased the land adjoining on the west, 
and erected thereon the new building which it now occupies, 
in 1899. 

The Riggs National Bank has a capital stock of $1,000,000 
and its individual deposits amount approximately to $7,000,000. 

The First National Bank of Washington was organized in 
September, 1863 under the National Bank law of Congress, and 
opened its doors for business on the 22d of that month, at the 
corner of Fifteenth and G Streets. H. D. Cooke was president, 
and "William S. Huntington, cashier. During the panic of 1873, 
it failed, and was placed in the hands of E. L. Stanton, son of 
the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, who wound up its 
affairs. 

The Merchants' National Bank was organized in September, 

1864, with William Bayne as president, and L. Huyck, cashier. 
In March, 1866, this bank became involved with a Baltimore 
firm which failed, the result of which was that the bank itself 
was discontinued. 

The National Bank of the Metropolis was organized in 

1865, was located at No. 452 Fifteenth Street, opposite the 
Treasury, and went into liquidation the latter part of the 
year 1868. 

The National Bank of the Republic, of Washington, was 
organized in 1865. It purchased the property of the old Patriotic 
Bank, of Washington, located at the southwest corner of Seventh 
and D Streets. The National Bank of the Republic went into 
the hands of a receiver August 11, 1897, for the purpose of 
liquidation. This action was due primarily to the death of 
George Lemmon, chief owner of the institution, and the un- 
willingness of the directors to assume the risk of carrying on 
the bank. The Lemmon interest in the bank was purchased in 



History of the City of Washington 557 

the liquidation proceedings by S. W. Woodward and E. South- 
ard Parker. 

The Freedman's Savings and Trust Company was incor- 
porated by an act of Congress approved March 3, 1865, with 
fifty incorporators. The object of the incorporation was to 
receive on deposit such sums of money as might be, from time 
to time, offered by or on behalf of persons previously held in 
slavery, or their descendants, and to invest them in stocks, 
bonds, Treasury notes, or other securities of the United States. 
The books of the company were to be open to inspection to such 
persons as Congress should appoint. 

The business of the company was at first, and for some 
time, conducted in New York City. When the headquarters of 
the company were removed to Washington, J. W. Alvord be- 
came president, D. W. Anderson, vice-president, and W. J. 
Wilson, cashier. The latter two were negroes. The business of 
the bank was prosperous and well conducted until the original 
charter was so amended, May 6, 1870, as to authorize the 
trustees and officers of the company to make loans to the extent 
of one-half of the deposits on unincumbered real estate situated 
in the vicinity of the several branches of the company, to the 
extent of one-half the value of such real estate. Some of the 
funds of the bank were recklessly invested, and in 1874 it 
failed. There were thirty-four branches of the company, in 
all parts of the country. When it was discovered that the 
affairs of the company were in an unsatisfactory condition, a 
board of three commissioners was appointed in 1875 to take 
charge. These commissioners were John A. J. Creswell, Robert 
Purvis, and Robert H. T. Leipold. The deposits then in the 
aggregate had amounted to about $56,000,000, about $53,000,000 
had been paid ba«k to the depositors, leaving about $3,000,000 
still due to nearly seventy thousand depositors. The original 
commissioners were relieved of the labor at their own request 
on March 7, 1881, under the provisions of an act of Congress 
approved February 21, 1881. Since then, the work has been 
in charge of the Comptroller of the Currency, who is still admin- 
istering the banks affairs under the Act of Congress entitled 



558 History of the City of Washington 

•'An Act authorizing the Commissioner of the Freedman's Sav- 
ings and Trust Company to pay certain dividends barred by the 
Act of February twenty-first, eighteen hundred and eighty-one, ' ' 
approved March 3, 1899, which applies to those depositors of 
the company only who have not received the five dividends, 
aggregating 62 per cent, of their balances. 

The National Safe Deposit Company, of Washington, was 
chartered by special Act of Congress, approved January 22, 
1867, and commenced business July 27, 1867, at the corner of 
New York Avenue and Fifteenth Street. It is now a branch 
of the National Savings and Trust Company. 

The National Savings Bank was chartered May 24, 1870, 
and opened for business on November 1, that year. Henry A. 
Willard was the first president of the bank, William Stickney, 
vice-president, Lewis Clephane, secretary, and B. P. Snyder, 
treasurer. The location of the bank was at the northeast corner 
of New York Avenue and Fifteenth Street. 

The savings feature of this company was authorized by 
special Act of Congress, of May 24, 1870, and under the pro- 
visions of that Act the National Savings Bank was organized, 
practically as a department of this company. In the process 
of reorganization in 1890 the National Savings Bank was ab- 
sorbed by the trust company. The company took the title 
National Safe Deposit Company of Washington, under the 
charter of incorporation in 1867. This was changed to National 
Safe Deposit, Savings and Trust Company under the reorgani- 
zation of 1890, and the present name, National Savings and 
Trust Company was assumed on January 31, 1907. William 
B. Hooper is the present president. 

The National Capital Bank, of Washington, was organized 
in September, 1889. It is located at 314 and 316 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, southeast. John E. Herrell, its first president, died in 
1909, and the directors elected Thomas W. Smith to succeed 
him. Mr. Smith is one of the principal lumber merchants of 
the city. He was one of the founders of the bank and has been 
within its councils from the beginning. 



History of the City of Washington 559 

The Second National Bank was established about July 
1, 1872. It is located at No. 509 Seventh Street, N. W. Mr. 
McKelden served as president until 1877, when he was suc- 
ceeded by Matthew G. Emery. Upon the death of Matthew G. 
Emery, his son-in-law, William V. Cox, was in 1905, made presi- 
dent of the bank. Mr. Cox resigned, and Honorable Cuno 
H. Rudolph was selected president on December 17, 1913. 

The Citizens' National Bank was organized in 1874, occu- 
pying the building formerly occupied by the First National 
Bank, on Fifteenth Street, between F and G Streets, N. W., 
and was absorbed by the National Metropolitan Bank (q. v.) 
in 1904. 

The Central National Bank succeeded the Metropolis Sav- 
ings Bank, and was organized as a national bank April 11, 1878. 
For several years it occupied the old Bank of Washington build- 
ing, but later it purchased and moved into the building at the 
.-junction of Pennsylvania Avenue and C Street at Seventh 
Street, April 1, 1888. Mr. Samuel Norment was the president 
of the bank from the date of its organization up to the time of 
his death, March 23, 1891. Upon his death W. E. Clark was 
elected president, and was succeeded to the presidency of the 
bank by Clarence F. Norment, the son of the first president, 
who occupied the position until the time of its merger with the 
Bank of Washington in April, 1907. The details of the merger 
are related under the history of the National Bank of Wash- 
ington. 

The Washington Safe Deposit Company was incorporated 
April 25, 1883, and organized with the following officers : W. G. 
Metzerott, president ; John T. Lenman, vice-president, and 
Samuel Cross, secretary and treasurer. This company's busi- 
ness is conducted at No. 916 Pennsylvania Avenue. 

The Columbia National Bank was organized in February, 
1887, with a capital of $250,000. Its first officers were B. H. 
Warner, president; A. T. Britton, vice-president, and E. S. 
Parker, cashier. This bank is located at 91] F Street, north- 
west, in a building erected especially for its use, at a cost of 
.$70,000. B. II. Warner retired from the presidency of the bank 



560 History of the City of Washington 

after it was fairly started and was succeeded by E. Southard 
Parker, who remained as its executive head until 1897, when he 
resigned and became president of the National Metropolitan 
Bank. He was succeeded by Albert F. Fox, who is its president 
at the present time. 

The Washington Loan and Trust Company was organized 
August 15, 1889, with a capital of $600,000, which, during the 
first year of its existence was increased to $1,000,000. The 
original purpose of its organization was that of ' ' buying, selling, 
loaning upon and negotiating bonds, stocks, promissory notes, 
and other property, and of guaranteeing, certifying, register- 
ing, endorsing, and supervising the issuance of bonds, stock, 
and other securities," etc. The number of directors was twenty- 
five. This organization was made under the laws of West 
Virginia. Business was commenced by the company October 
1, 1889, with the office located at the northwest corner of Tenth 
and F Streets, where it worked under the West Virginia charter 
until December 13, 1890, at which time it reorganized under 
the Act of Congress providing for the incorporation of trust 
companies in the District of Columbia, approved October 1, 
1890. The Act is entitled, "An Act to Provide for the Incor- 
poration of Trust, Loan, Mortgage, and Certain Other Corpora- 
tions within the District of Columbia." This Act authorized 
the transaction of three classes of business, the first of which, 
and the class conducted by this company, is therein styled, "A 
safe deposit, trust, loan, and mortgage business." Without 
much change from its establishment the Washington Loan and 
Trust Company has gone forward in a prosperous career, under 
the conservative management of John Joy Edson, who succeeded 
Mr. B. H. Warner as president, and the coterie of capitalists 
associated with him. 

The American Security and Trust Company was incor- 
porated October 12, 1889, under the general incorporation laws 
of the State of Virginia. It was incorporated and reorganized 
November 11, 1890, under the Act of Congress approved October 
1, 1890. Its business was conducted, temporarily, at 1419 G 
Street, northwest, but in the latter part of the year 1891 it 



History of the City of Washington 561 

removed to a fine new building erected for its own use at 1405 
G Street. It executes all kinds of trusts, and acts as executor, 
administrator, guardian, assignee, receiver, and trustee, and 
accepts the management of estates and property generally*. 
Money received on deposit is subject to check on demand, and 
interest is paid on such accounts at a rate agreed upon. It 
loans money on real estate and approved personal security. It 
issues its own debenture bonds upon deeds of trust or mortgages 
of real estate, in series and in sums of $100, $500, or $1,000, 
payable in a stated period, with quarterly or semi-annual 
interest, as may be agreed upon. It has a safe deposit feature, 
and a storage warehouse department. It also acts as financial 
agents in the matter of countersigning and registering certifi- 
cates of stocks, bonds, or other obligations of any corporation, 
association, State, or public authority, and manages sinking 
funds on such terms as are agreed upon; as agent or attorney 
for the collection of interest, dividends, and all forms of income, 
and as attorney in fact for the interest of non-residents and 
others who may desire to be relieved of the care and attention 
of property. A. T. Britton was the first president of the com- 
pany; C. G. Bell, first vice-president; A. A. Thomas, second 
vice-president; Percy B. Metzger, treasurer and trust officer, 
and George E. Emmons, secretary. Charles J. Bell became 
president of the company, succeeding A. T. Britton, in 1903. 
At that time the corporation was virtually reorganized. The 
company purchased the site at the northwest corner of Penn- 
sylvania Avenue and Fifteenth Street, and erected the fine 
granite building which it now occupies. Col. Henry F. Blount 
has been connected with this company since December, 1890, 
when he was made director. He was made a vice-president the 
next year. He has been a vice-president ever since, and is the 
bank's oldest and first vice-president. lie was born in Ontario 
County, New York, on May 1, 1829. 

The Lincoln National Bank, of Washington, District of 
Columbia, was organized February 27, 1890, with a capital of 
$200,000, and opened its doors for business on March 25. At 
the end of the first year, at the reorganization of the board, 



562 History of the City of Washington 

Mr. Prescott and Mr. Johnson resigned their positions as presi- 
dent and vice-president, and were succeeded respectively by 
Mr. Jesse B. Wilson as president, and by Mr. H. Bradley David- 
son as vice-president. Jesse B. Wilson retired from the presi- 
dency of the bank in March, 1909, and was succeeded by Richard 
A. Walker. Upon the death of Mr. Walker he was succeeded 
by Floyd E. Davis, the present president. 

The West End National Bank was organized in 1890, with 
it, capital of $200,000. It was originally located at the corner 
oc Nineteenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, in the west end 
of the city, and for this reason was named the West End Nat- 
ional Bank; but after a year's experience, it was moved to 
No. 1415 G Street, northwest, It went into liquidation and 
was absorbed by the Citizen's National Bank, which was in 
turn consolidated with the National MetroDolitan Bank. 

The Traders' National Bank was organized March 3, 1890, 
with a capital of $200,000, and with the following officers: 
George C. Henning, president; William A. Gordon, vice-presi- 
dent; Brent L. Baldwin, cashier. By vote of the stockholders 
of the Merchants and Mechanics Savings Bank, (q. v.), the 
Traders' Bank was merged with it in April, 1908, and the 
charter surrendered. 

The Ohio National Bank begun business February 24, 1891, 
at the corner of G and Twelfth Streets, northwest, in a rented 
building. Most of those concerned in the movement were Ohio 
men, and hence, in part at least, the name of the Bank. The 
Ohio National Bank was not a profitable venture. The assassi- 
nation of President Garfield, and the disintegration of the 
Ohio interests in the bank which followed weakened the institu- 
tion, and it was liquidated commencing December 31, 1897. 

The private banking firm of Lewis Johnson & Company 
commenced business February 1, 1858, at the corner of Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue and Tenth Street. It was then composed of 
Lewis Johnson, David Walker, and Lewis J. Davis. The busi- 
ness is now conducted by J. William Henry, A. Mearns and 
Benj. Woodruff at 1505 Pennsylvania Avenue. 



History of the City of Washington 563 

Bell & Company are at 1333 F Street and Crane, Paris & 
Company at 604 Fourteenth Street. 

The American National Bank was organized in the early 
part of 1903 with the idea of supplying banking facilities for 
the upper end of F Street, a section of the business district not 
then supplied with such facilities near at hand. The bank 
was chartered in May, 1903. During the month of February, 
1908, the bank was reorganized and R. H. Lynn, who had been 
cashier for several years, was elected to the presidency of the 
bank. The present president is William T. Galliher, one of 
the city's leading lumber dealers, and prominent in all civic 
affairs. 

The District National Bank resulted from the reorganiza- 
tion of the private banking corporation of Harper & Company 
under the National Bank Act of September 20, 1909. Robert 
N. Harper, within a few months after his retirement from the 
head of the American National Bank, started the banking cor- 
poration which bore his name. The new concern began business 
in the building formerly occupied by the West End National 
Bank and later by the International Banking Corporation, and 
which now shelters the Washington and Southern Bank. On 
October 9, 1913, it absorbed the Citizen's Savings Bank. 

In 1911 the District Bank occupied the new building erected 
for its use on the south side of G Street, just above Fourteenth. 

The Federal National Bank was organized, received its 
charter, raised its stock subscriptions and opened for business 
in the early part of January, 1913. It took over the Small 
building at the southeast corner of Fourteenth and G Streets 
and constructed its banking room on the ground floor. John 
Poole is president of the new bank, N. H. Shea, vice-president, 
and Charles B. Lyddane, cashier. 

What are familiarly known as trust companies in Wash- 
ington are all incorporated under the special Act of Congress, 
approved October 1, 1890. This Act followed numerous appli- 
cations to Congress for special charters for such institutions, 
end was enacted only after three of the present trust companies 



564 History of the City of Washington 

had established themselves under charters taken out in one of 
the States. 

Under Acts of Congress trust companies are placed on a 
par with national banks, being subject to inspection at least 
twice each year by a bank examiner, and being required to 
make a report of operations at the call of the Comptroller of 
the Currency five times a year. These reports must be pub- 
lished in at least one daily paper published in the City of 
Washington. 

The law of 1890 prohibited the operation of any trust 
company in the District unless incorporated under that law, 
and shortly after its passage the three corporations doing a 
trust business in Washington took out certificates of incorpora- 
tion, under the Act, from the office of the Comptroller of the 
Currency. Under the operation of subsequent laws the trust 
companies conduct a general banking business, except making 
loans on commercial paper, maintain a savings department, and 
pay interest upon deposits. 

In the autumn of 1889, Edward J. Stellwagen and others 
organized the Union Trust and Storage Company. The charter 
of this company was given to it on February 3, 1900. It went 
into business in the bank building adjoining the Willard Hotel 
in F Street, at 1414. The capital stock was increased $2,000,000 
in October, 1906, to provide funds for the new building of the 
company, which has been erected on the site of Wormley's 
Hotel, southwest corner of H and Fifteenth Street, N. W. Its 
name was changed on February 11, 1905, to The Union Trust 
Company. Its president is Edward J. Stellwagen. 

In the autumn of 1906 a new trust company, to be known 
as the United States Trust Company, was organized. The 
company received a certificate of incorporation March 18, 1907, 
and went into business on the east side of Fourteenth Street, 
between F and G on that date. 

About April, 1912, the stockholders voted to accept an 
offer for the purchase of the Merchants and Mechanics Savings 
Bank with its several branches. The Fourteenth Street Savings 
Bank was acquired a month later also by purchase. This gave 



History of the City of Washington 565 

the company not only the central office, but sis branches in 
different parts of the city, including those at Pennsylvania and 
Ninth Street, formerly the Traders' National Bank and the 
original home of the Merchants and Mechanics Savings Bank 
at Seventh and G Streets. 

The company moved its central banking offices ,to the 
Southern Building in 1910. It was absorbed on November 21, 
1913, by The Munsey Trust Company, (q. v.) 

The Continental Trust Company was organized by its presi- 
dent, Nathan B. Scott, formerly Senator from "West Virginia, 
and others, who withdrew from the United States Trust Com- 
pany and started the Continental. It occupies the building on 
G Street vacated by the United States Trust Company when it 
removed to the Southern Building. 

The Real Estate Trust Company grew out of a plan devised 
by the financiers in control of the United States Trust Company. 
to organize an institution that should give special attention to 
real estate operations, and security, guarantee, indemnity, loan 
and mortgage business, as its main field of activity. It was 
organized and went into business in April, 1912, in the building 
formerly occupied by the Union Trust Company in F Street. 

The company purchased the Montrose Hotel property at 
the northeast corner of H and Fourteenth Streets, where it is 
erecting a twelve story building. Gist Blair is its president. 

The Munsey Trust Company was organized principally 
through the efforts of Frank A. Munsey, owner of the Washing- 
ton Times. It was the culmination of a purpose entertained 
by Mr. Munsey for several years. The company is capitalized 
at $2,000,000 and was incorporated April 15, 1913, and opened 
for business on the 15th of the following May. It is the young- 
est of the "Washington trust companies, and occupies the bank- 
ing room provided for the purpose in the Munsey Building. 

On November 21, 1913, the Munsey Trust Company ab- 
sorbed the headquarters and five branches of the United States 
Trust Company. The headquarters of the latter bank were 
located in the Southern Building at the corner of Fifteenth and 
H Streets, northwest. The branch banks were located at Four- 



568 History of the City of Washington 

teenth and U Streets ; Tenth and Pennsylvania Avenue ; Seventh 
and G Streets; Twentieth and Pennsylvania Avenue; and Du- 
pont Circle. At the time of its absorbtion the United States 
Trust Company had deposits aggregating $6,500,000. 

The branch bank at Seventh and G Streets was afterwards 
sold by the Munsey Company and became the Security Savings 
and Commercial Bank. The branch at Tenth and Pennsylvania 
Avenue was sold and became the Franklin National Bank. The 
branch at Twentieth and Pennsylvania Avenue was sold and 
organized as the Exchange Bank. 

The officers of the Munsey Trust Company are Frank A. 
Munsey, president; C. H. Pope, vice-president; and A. B. Clax- 
ton, treasurer. 

The Commercial National Bank was organized in 1904, re- 
ceiving its charter October 19, that year. Its president is A. G. 
Clapham. The building at the northwest corner of G and Four- 
teenth Streets was selected as its location. In April, 1911, the 
Commercial Bank absorbed the stock, assets and good will of 
the National City Bank, increasing the capital stock to $750,000, 
with a surplus of $533,591. 

The National City Bank was organized and received its 
charter in December, 1905, opening for business on the 15th 
of the month. The bank went into business in the building on 
G Street, northwest, adjoining the Commercial National Bank. 

During the month of March, 1909, a controlling interest in 
the bank vested in E. Quincy Smith who represented the F. H. 
Smith estate, and was practically owner of the "Washington Sav- 
ings Bank, located at Twelfth and G Streets. The two banks 
were merged into the National City Bank, and went into busi- 
ness in the building adjoining the Bond building, in Fourteenth 
Street. The Union Savings Bank, controlled largely by the 
same financiers as the National City Bank, occupied one-half 
of the same banking room. 

In April, 1911, the stock, good will and assets of the Nat- 
ional City Bank were purchased by the Commercial National 
Bank and it was merged with that institution. 



History of the City of Washington 567 

Savings banks did not make perceptible progress in Wash- 
ington until after 1890. Following the formation of the Union 
Savings Bank only two or three such institutions got a foothold 
until after the turn of the century. Since 1894 the multiplica- 
tion of these small banks has been very rapid. The later ones 
were organized and established on smaller capital than would 
suffice for a national bank, and they serve to provide regional 
banking facilities. 

Under the laws of the District, savings banks are subject to 
the supervision of the Comptroller of the Currency, though 
many of them have been organized under charters received from 
one of the States. 

Following are brief descriptions of the older savings banks 
that have survived, and those later formed and in business at 
the present time. 

The Peoples Savings Bank was organized under the laws 
of West Virginia, September 14, 1903. Among the principal 
incorporators being S. J. Masters and J. B. Kinnear. The bank 
had a brief career and was thrown into liquidation at the order 
of the Comptroller of the Currency, October 24, 1906. 

The Anacostia Bank was organized in 1910 and incorporated 
under the laws of West Virginia. The bank was promoted and 
organized chiefly through the efforts of George 0. Walson, vice- 
president of the National Metropolitan Bank, to meet the needs 
of the business men of that part of the District. W. Walson is 
president. It does a regular banking business, with a savings 
department. 

Bank of Commerce and Savings was organized and incor- 
porated as the Dime Savings Bank, under the laws of Virginia, 
in August, 1907. It went into business at that time in the 
Ouray Building at Eighth and G Streets, northwest. The lead- 
ing spirit in the organization was Maurice D. Rosenburg. 

The directors of the bank in 1909 purchased the building 
at the northeast corner of Seventh and E Streets, northwest, 
and rebuilt it for the use of the bank and for office purposes. 
The original plan of bank fashioned after the Dime Savings 
Bank in New York, not having worked out to the satisfaction 



568 History of the City of Washington 

of the founders, the name was abandoned in 1910, and the bank 
assumed the title of "Bank of Commerce and Savings," and 
operating as a general commercial and savings bank under its 
original charter. 

The Citizens Savings Bank was incorporated under the 
laws of Virginia in March, 1906. James A. Sample, A. P. Cren- 
shaw, Sidney I. Besseliever, Bester R. Walters and others were 
interested in the venture. The bank was established for busi- 
ness in the Bond Building, but outgrew these quarters and in 
1912 leased a building on Gr Street, near Fifteenth Street. It 
was absorbed by the District National Bank, October 9, 1913. 

East Washington Savings Bank was incorporated under the 
laws of the District of Columbia in May, 1905. It was organized 
to meet the demand in that quarter for loans upon approved first 
mortgages on real estate. M. I. Weller and others were inter- 
ested in its foundation. The bank is located at 312 Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue, southeast. M. I. Weller is president. 

The Home Savings Bank was incorporated under the laws 
of Virginia in 1899, and is the second oldest institution of the 
kind now operating in Washington. The savings feature was 
made prominent and has held that position, though the bank 
engages in a constantly increasing commercial business. B. F. 
Saul is its president. 

The North Capitol Savings Bank was organized in the later 
months of 1912, incorporated under the laws of Arizona, Novem- 
ber 2, 1912, and went into business at 731 North Capitol Street 
the following week. The president is Daniel B. Mulcahy. 

The Park Savings Bank was organized by business men and 
residents of Mt. Pleasant who felt the need of a regional bank 
in that part of the city, and incorporated under the laws of 
Alabama, and opened for business at Fourteenth Street and 
Park Road in October, 1909. 

The Potomac Savings Bank was established under a cer- 
tificate of incorporation obtained from the State of Virginia in 
1903, with a view to enlarging the banking facilities of George- 
town. 



History of the City of Washington 569 

The bank went into business at 1264 Wisconsin Avenue. 
It moved to 3157 M Street in December, 1905. It entered the 
new building erected as the permanent home of the bank at the 
northwest corner of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, October 
i, 1909. 

The bank does a general banking business, with the savings 
feature prominent in its operations. 

Seventh Street Savings Bank was incorporated under the 
laws of West Virginia in July, 1912, and went into business 
during that month, in a room fitted up for the purpose at the 
corner of Seventh and N Streets, N. W., for the accommodation 
of the business interests in that part of Seventh Street and the 
many residents of the vicinity. 

The Union Savings Bank is the oldest of the existing savings 
banks of the District. It was organized under the laws of West 
Virginia. At this time the Washington Savings Bank was ab- 
sorbed. The president is Wade H. Cooper. 

The bank practically passed into the hands of the financiers 
who controlled the National City Bank. Upon the merger of 
the National City Bank with the Commercial National Bank the 
financiers of the City Bank remained in control of the Union 
Savings Bank, which absorbed the Mercantile Bank by purchase 
■of the stock in May, 1912. 

The United States Savings Bank was incorporated under 
the laws of West Virginia in 1906. The institution was organ- 
ized for the purpose of providing banking facilities at Four- 
teenth and U Streets. 

The Washington Mechanics Savings Bank was incorporated 
under the laws of Virginia in July, 1906. It was formed to 
afford a means of deposit and the accumulation of savings for 
the employees of the United States navy yard and the residents 
of Southeast Washington. 

The Merchants and Mechanics Savings Bank was incor- 
porated under the laws of Virginia in 1904, with a capital stock 
of $50,000. Tts original site was on G Street near the corner of 
Seventh. About this time it absorbed the Traders National Bank 
by purchase, and its main offices were removed to that building. 



570 History of the City of Washington 

It, with its branches, was absorbed by the United States Trust 
Company in April, 1912, and was operated as a branch of that 
institution until November 23, 1913, when that company came 
under the control of the Munsey Trust Company. On April 4, 
1914, it was organized as the Franklin National Bank, with 
Charles C. Cochran as president. 

The McLachlen Banking Corporation, incorporated under 
the laws of the State of Virginia, in November, 1891, was for 
many years a private banking establishment, but in 1906, popu- 
lar subscription to its stock was sought, the institution was 
placed under the supervision of the Comptroller of the Cur- 
rency and took on more of the banking character. The bank 
occupies the first floor of its own building at Tenth and G 
Streets, N. W., which was rebuilt and refurnished in 1912. The 
president is A. M. McLachlen, its founder. 

The Washington and Southern Bank is a private banking 
corporation, though under the supervision of the Comptroller 
of the Currency. The bank was organized in 1912 and went 
into business in the building formerly occupied by the District 
National Bank, in April, 1912. It was incorporated under the 
laws of the State of West Virginia. Its president is J. Selwin 
Tait. 

Banking in the District of Columbia, as it is known today, 
began with the passage of the National Bank Act, in 1863, 
amended and extended in 1864. This Act laid the foundation 
of a national paper currency, which took the place of about 
10,000 issues of state, county and private bank issues which had 
been previously known, and the fluctuating value of which more 
than anything else precipitated the panic of 1857. 

A majority of the banks doing business in the District in 
1863 and 1864, took advantage of the provisions of the National 
Bank Act and incorporated under it. General banks organized 
since that time have usually incorporated as national banks, and 
the business in general has gone along under that system. The 
trust company, formed to meet exigencies in business not pro- 
vided for in the National Bank Act, and. the savings bank, as 
institutions in Washington, came at a later date. 



History of the City of Washington 571 

No national bank in Washington has ever been closed by 
the Comptroller of the Currency, and the few which have liqui- 
dated have paid their obligations in full. One branch of an 
outside banking concern and one savings bank only have felt 
the weight of the authority imposed on the Comptroller within 
the half century of operations since the passage of the National 
Bank Act. 

The present tendency is toward consolidation and stronger 
financial institutions. The big institutions are endeavoring to 
unite the small regional banks under one charter as branch 
banks. Under the National Banking Act an institution cannot 
have branches. 



CHAPTER XVII 



The Bench and Bar 

The Act of Congress of July 16, 1790, providing for the 
establishment of the temporary and permanent seat of govern- 
ment, left the laws of Maryland and Virginia in force over the 
territory of these states respectively within the seat of govern- 
ment until further legislation by Congress. As a consequence, 
all the litigation arising within the present limits of the District 
of Columbia from the time of the passage of that law until the 
passage of the Act of February 27, 1801, creating the Circuit 
Court of the District of Columbia, was conducted in the courts 
of Maryland at Annapolis. The records of the Commissioners 
appointed to establish the seat of government under the Act 
of 1790, give evidence of a very considerable amount of litiga- 
tion in which they were involved in their official capacity, both 
as plaintiffs and as defendants. In most of this litigation they 
were represented by Philip Barton Key, though accasionally 
other attorneys were employed. 

The Act of Congress of February 27, 1801, divided the 
District of Columbia into two counties, that on the north of 
the Potomac River with the islands therein constituting the 
County of Washington and that on the Virginia side of the 
City constituting the County of Alexandria, the river in its 
course through the District being deemed to be within both 
counties. The Act created a Circuit Court, to consist of a Chief 
Judge and two Assistant Judges, the court to hold four ses- 
sions annually in each of the counties created by the Act. An 
Orphan's Court was created for each of these counties, and 
provision was made for the transfer of pending litigation in 
the courts of Maryland and Virginia to the Circuit Court created 
by the Act. Various statutes amendatory to this Act were from 



History of the City of Washington 573 

time to time passed by Congress, the most notable of which 
prior to 1863 was that creating the criminal court in 1838. 

By Act approved March 3, 1863, the Circuit Court of the 
District of Columbia was abolished, and the Supreme Court 
of the District of Columbia created in its place. This court 
as originally created consisted of a Chief Justice and three 
Associate Justices. Any one of these Justices was empowered 
to hold a Circuit Court or District Court, with an appeal to 
the entire court en banc, which right of appeal, however, was 
abolished in 1893, when by Act approved February 9 of that 
year, the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia was 
created. A right of appeal from the courts of the District of 
Columbia to the Supreme Court of the United States has at 
all times been recognized by various acts of Congress. By the 
Act creating the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, 
appeals to the Supreme Court of the United States were allowed 
in ease involving one hundred dollars. This amount was after- 
wards raised to one thousand dollars, and is now fixed at five 
thousand dollars. 

Upon the creation of the Circuit Court of the District of 
Columbia, President Adams tendered the position of Chief 
Justice to Thomas Johnson, who had been one of the original 
Commissioners appointed by President Washington for laying 
out the City, and who had been at different times Chief Justice 
and Governor of Maryland and an Associate Justice of the 
Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Johnson declined 
the appointment, which was then tendered to and accepted by 
William Kilty. Judge Kilty was born in London in 1757, and 
moved at an early age with his parents to Maryland. He served 
in the Continental Army as a sergeant throughout the Eevolu- 
tionary War, at the close of which he took up the study of law 
at Annapolis, being soon after delegated by the State to pre- 
pare a compilation of the laws of Maryland, and his work 
"Kilty's Laws of Maryland" is at this day the recognized 
authority on that subject. He resigned his position as Chief 
Justice of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia on 
January 20, 1806, to accept an appointment as Chancellor of 



574 History of the City of Washington 

Maryland, which position he held until his death on October 10, 
1821. While Chancellor of Maryland he prepared, under a 
commission from the legislature of that state, a compilation of 
the English statutes in force in Maryland. 

Judge Kilty was succeeded as Chief Justice of the Circuit 
Court of the District of Columbia by Judge William Cranch, 
who was one of the original Assistant Justices of that Court. 
Judge Cranch had served for a period of six weeks in 1801 as 
successor to Alexander White on the board of Commissioners 
appointed to lay out the city. He held the position of Chief 
Justice of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia until 
his death on September 1, 1855. It is said of him by his 
biographer that only two cases appealed from him to the 
Supreme Court of the United States were reversed. He, for 
some years, in addition to his judicial duties, reported the 
decisions of the Supreme Court of the United States, nine 
volumes of the reports of that court bearing his name. He also 
reported the decisions of the Circuit Court of the District of 
Columbia from 1801 to 1841, in six volumes known as " Cranch 's 
Circuit Court Reports." 

Judge Cranch was succeeded on December 7, 1855, by 
James Dunlop, who filled the position of Chief Justice until 
the abolishment of the Circuit Court in 1863. Judge Dunlop 
had previously been the first judge of the Criminal Court upon 
its organization in 1838, and had been appointed Assistant 
Justice of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia in 1845. 
He was the grandson of Robert Peter, one of the original 
proprietors of the land on which the City of Washington was 
laid out. He was graduated at the college of New Jersey at 
Princeton, had afterwards been associated in partnership with 
Francis Scott Key and later for some time served as Assistant 
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. 

The Associate Justices of the Circuit Court of the District 
of Columbia were James Marshall, appointed March 3, 1801; 
Nicholas Fitzhugh, appointed November 25, 1803; Allen B. 
Duckett, appointed March 17, 1806; Buckner Thruston, 
appointed December 14, 1809. Judge Thruston was born in 



History of the City of Washington 575 

Virginia and early migrated to Kentucky. He was appointed 
Federal judge of the Territory of Orleans in 1805, and in the 
same year was elected one of the original senators from Ken- 
tucky upon the admission of that state into the Union, which 
position he held until his appointment as Justice of the Circuit 
Court of the District of Columbia. 

James S. Morsell was appointed Associate Justice January 
11, 1815, and held that office until the abolishment of the court 
in 1863. He was a native of Calvert County, Maryland, and 
had practiced law in Georgetown in the early part of the 
Century and had served in the war of 1812. He died in 1870 
at the age of 95 years. 

William M. Merrick was appointed December 14, 1855, and 
continued to be a member of the Court until its abolishment in 
1863. Judge Merrick was born in Charles County, Maryland, 
in 1818 and prior to his appointment had practiced law in Balti- 
more and Frederick, Md. Upon the abolishment of the Circuit 
Court of the District, Judge Merrick resumed the practice of 
law in Maryland, was elected to the Maryland Constitutional 
Convention in 1867, to the State Legislature of 1870, and to 
Congress as a member of the forty-second Congress. In 1885 
he was appointed by President Cleveland an Associate Justice 
of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. 

The judges of the criminal court created in 1838 were 
Thomas F. Mason, who served for about one year ; James Dunlop 
from 1839 to 1845 ; Thomas Hartley from 1845 to his death. 

"With the establishment of the Supreme Court of the District 
of Columbia the entire personnel of the judiciary was altered. 
President Lincoln appointed former Congressman David K. 
Cartter of Ohio, Chief Justice; George P. Fisher, former Con- 
gressman and Attorney General of Delaware; Andrew Wylie, 
of Pennsylvania; and Abraham B. Olin; former Congressman 
from New York, as Associate Judges. 

Judge Cartter filled the position of Chief Justice until his 
death in 1887. He was succeeded by Edward F. Bingham of 
Ohio who served until his death in 1903. Judge Bingham was 
succeeded on April 1, 1903, by Harry M. Clabaugh, formerly 



576 History of the City of Washington 

one of the Associate Justices of the Court, who held the position 
until his death on March 6, 1914. 

The Associate Justices following the first appointees and 
the dates of their appointment have been : David C. Humphreys, 
May 3, 1870; Arthur McArthur, formerly Governor of Wiscos- 
sin, who re-established the custom of reporting the decisions of 
the Court, July 15, 1870; Alexander B. Hagner of Maryland, 
January 21, 1879 ; Walter S. Cox of the District of Columbia, 
who was largely instrumental in the preparation of the Code of 
the District of Columbia, March 1, 1879; Charles P. James, of 
Ohio, one of the compilers of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States, July 24, 1879; former Justice of the Circuit Court of 
the District William M. Merrick, May 1, 1885 ; Martin V. Mont- 
gomery of Michigan, formerly Commissioner of Patents, April 
1, 1887 ; Andrew C. Bradley of the District of Columbia, March 
23, 1889; Louis E. McComas of Maryland, November 22, 1892; 
Charles C. Cole of Maine, formerly United States District Attor- 
ney for the District, January 28, 1893; Harry M. Clabaugh, 
formerly Attorney General of Maryland, March 2, 1899; Job 
Barnard of the District of Columbia, October 1, 1899 ; Thomas 
H. Anderson of Ohio, formerly United States District Attorney 
of the District, April 23, 1901 ; Ashley M. Gould of Maryland, 
formerly United States District Attorney for the District, 
December 8, 1902; Jeter C. Pritchard, formerly United States 
Senator from North Carolina, April 1, 1903 ; Daniel Thew 
Wright of Ohio, November 17, 1903; Wendell Phillips Stafford 
of Vermont, June 1, 1904. 

The Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia was 
created by Act of Congress approved February 9, 1893. 

Richard H. Alvey, formerly Chief Justice of the Court of 
Appeals of Maryland, was appointed Chief Justice April 15, 
1893. He retired in December, 1904. The original Associate 
Judges were Martin F. Morris of the District of Columbia, who 
retired in June, 1905, and Seth Shepard of Texas, who was 
appointed Chief Justice on January 5, 1905. 

Charles H. Duell, of New York, formerly Commissioner of 
Patents, was appointed Associate Justice on January 5, 1905, 



History of the City of Washington 577 

and resigned in August, 1906. Louis E. McComas, formerly 
Associate Justice of the District Supreme Court and later United 
States Senate or from Maryland, was appointed Associate Justice 
on April 26, 1905, and served until his death in November 10, 
1907. The present Associate Justices are Charles H. Robb of 
Vermont, appointed October 5, 1906, and Josiah A. Van Orsdell 
of Wyoming, appointed December 12, 1907. 

Owing to the large number of public officials residing at 
Washington, the courts of the District have naturally been the 
scene of many trials of nation-wide interest. Among these have 
been a considerable number of a criminal character. Among 
the early cases of this nature was the trial of Richard Lawrence 
for an attack made by him upon President Andrew Jackson on 
January 30, 1835, while the President was coming out of the 
rotunda of the Capitol from attendance at the funeral of Con- 
gressman Warren R. Davis. The case came on to trial before 
Judge Cranch on April 11, 1835, and resulted in an acquittal on 
the ground of insanity. The evidence established the fact that 
the defendant was laboring under a hallucination to the effect 
that he was the King of England and of the United States and 
that President Jackson was a usurper who prevented the defend- 
ant from exercising his right of kingship. 

In December, 1836, Richard H. White was tried for setting 
fire to the Treasury Building on March 30, 1833. His indict- 
ment was dated March 30, 1836. His defense was based upon 
the plea of two years limitations provided for in the act govern- 
ing the crime, the chief issue at the trial being whether the 
defendant came without the scope of this limitation by virtue 
of being a fugitive from justice. At the first trial and at the 
second trial in April 1837 the jury disagreed, but at the third 
trial in June, 1837, the defendant was acquitted on the plea 
of limitations. 

The trial of Dr. George A. Gardiner in 1853 attracted great 
prominence throughout the country. Gardiner bad presented 
evidence before the commission provided for by the treaty of 
peace with Mexico to adjust claims of American citizens against 
the Mexican Government, and had been awarded $428,000 by the 



578 History of the City of Washington 

commission on account of the alleged destruction of a mine which 
he claimed to have owned in the State of San Louis Potosi. 
Gardiner was prosecuted on the charge of perjury in the estab- 
lishment of this claim. The first trial resulted in a disagreement, 
after which Mr. Henry May who had assisted the District 
Attorney, Philip R. Fendall, in the trial of the case, went to 
Mexico and procured additional evidence in the shape of a letter 
to Gardiner from his brother, which practically established the 
guilt of the defendant beyond dispute. When the jury returned 
with a verdict of guilty, the defendant took something from his 
vest pocket, placed it in his mouth and called for a drink of 
water. Almost immediately, he fell. Although denying that 
he had taken poison he died within an hour. He had frequently 
stated that he would never serve sentence in case of conviction. 

Probably the most notable trial of the first half century 
was that of Congressman Daniel E. Sickles, afterwards General 
Sickles, for the killing of Philip Barton Key, at the time United 
States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Key had for a 
long time been intimate with the wife of Congressman Sickles, 
who had secured a confession from his wife and had frequently 
warned Key against continuing his relations with her. On 
February 27, 1859, seeing a handkerchief signal pass between 
Key and his wife, Sickles shot Key on Lafayette Place near the 
corner of Pennsylvania Avenue. Key died on the 7th of March 
following. The case was tried before Judge Crawford of the 
Criminal Court and was prosecuted by Robert Ould, who had 
been appointed by the President to succeed Key as United States 
Attorney for the District. Sickles was represented by Edwin 
M. Stanton, afterwards Secretary of War under President Lin- 
coln, by Chilton and Magruder and by Daniel Radcliffe. The 
case was famous as an early instance of the adoption of the 
defense of the "unwritten law," upon which ground the jury 
rendered a verdict of not guilty. 

The damage suit brought by Hallet Kilbourn against Ser- 
geant at Arms John G. Thompson of the House of Representa- 
tives in 1876, resulted from the commitment of Kilbourn by 
Thompson, under resolution of the House, to the district jail 



History of the City of Washington 579 

for contempt in refusing to appear before a committee of the 
House of Representatives to testify concerning certain matters 
growing out of the failure of J. Cooke & Co. Judge Cartter 
issued a writ of habeas corpus, and after three days' argument 
in the House that body by a vote of 165 to 75 directed the 
Sergeant at Arms to obey the writ. Kilbourn was discharged 
by Judge Cartter and soon after brought suit against Thompson 
and others for false imprisonment. A decision by the Supreme 
Court of the District, upon demurrer denying the right of 
action, was reversed by the Supreme Court of the United States 
in 1881. The first trial in April, 1882, before Judge McArthur 
resulted in a verdict of $100,000, which was set aside by the 
judge as excessive.- A second trial occurred in November, 1883, 
before Judge Cox, and resulted in a verdict of $60,000, which 
the Judge set aside as excessive. The third trial in March, 
1884, before Judge Hagner, resulted in a verdict of $37,500, 
which the Judge reduced to $20,000, which sum with interest 
was appropriated by Congress on March 4, 1885. Kilbourn was 
represented in this litigation by Judge J. S. Black; Matthew 
H. Carpenter; General N. L. Jeffries; Honorable D. W. Voor- 
hees; Enoch Totten; C. A. Eldridge; and W. D. Davidge. The 
government was represented at different stages by S. S. Shella- 
barger ; Judge William Merrick ; W. H. Treseott ; H. W. Garnett ; 
Honorable Frank Hurd; Walter E. Smith; District Attorney 
George B. Corkhill; Assistant District Attorney Coyle; District 
Attorney Worthington ; and the firm of Shellabarger and Wilson. 
On November 14, 1881, Charles J. Guiteau was brought to 
trial for the murder of President Garfield in the Baltimore and 
Potomac Railroad depot in Washington on July 2, 1881, the 
President having died as the result of the shots inflicted 
by Guiteau on September 19 following. An interesting point as 
to the jurisdiction of the court to try the case arose by reason 
of the fact that the President had died in New Jersey. It was 
held that the court had jurisdiction of the case, regardless of 
the place where death took place, because of the fact that the 
act constituting the crime had been committed within the Dis- 
trict. The further defense was interposed thai the death of 



580 History of the City of Washington 

the President had resulted not from the necessarily fatal con- 
sequence of the shots inflicted, but as the result of malpractice 
on the part of the physicians who attended him. The chief 
defense relied upon, however, was that of insanity, on the ground 
that the defendant acted under the belief that he was doing 
the will of God in destroying the President. The case was 
prosecuted by District Attorney George B. Corkhill, the Govern- 
ment being represented by Judge Porter of New York and 
Walter D. Davidge of Washington. The defendant was repre- 
sented by George Scoville and Charles Reed of Chicago. The 
case was tried before Judge Cox, who allowed the utmost lati- 
tude to the defence in the introduction of evidence tending to 
show the insanity of the defendant. The trial lasted until Janu- 
ary 20, 1882, when the jury brought in a verdict of guilty. 

The Potomac Flats cases, technically referred to as Morris 
vs. United States, grew out of the Act of Congress of August 
2, 1882, providing for the improvement of navigation of the 
Potomac River, the establishing of harbor lines, and the raising 
of the flats in the river opposite the city of Washington, and an 
Act approved August 5, 1886, which directed the Attorney 
General to institute a suit against all claimants to the land or 
water affected by the improvements provided for in the former 
Act, ' ' for the purpose of establishing and making clear the right 
of the United States thereto." By the latter act the Supreme 
Court of the District of Columbia was vested with jurisdiction 
to determine all questions of title, and to annul or confirm all 
claims, arising or set forth in connection with the suit. 

A large number of claimants came into the suit, and after 
decrees had been rendered in the lower court the case went to 
the Supreme Court of the United States where three questions 
were presented: first, that arising out of the claims of the heirs 
of James M. Marshall and the heirs of former Chief Justice John 
Marshall, to the ownership of the entire bed of the Potomac 
River within the limits of the improvement ; second, that involv- 
ing the validity of the United States patent to the tract known 
as Kidwell 's Meadows above the Long Bridge ; third, the validity 
of a large number of claims the determination of which was 



History of the City of Washington 581 

dependent upon the decision of what constituted the legal water 
front boundary of the city of Washington. 

The claim of the heirs of John Marshall rested upon the 
charter granted by King James II of England to Thomas Lord 
Culpepper on September 27, 1688, granting to Lord Culpepper 
the so-called "northern neck" of Virginia lying between the 
Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers, to which the claimants set 
up their claim as successors to the title of Lord Fairfax, the 
heir-at-law of Lord Culpepper. The Court held that the title 
to the bed of the Potomac River could never have been included 
in the Culpepper grant because it had previously been granted 
by King Charles I on June 20, 1632, to Cecilius Calvert, second 
Baron of Baltimore, and first Lord Proprietary of the Province 
of Maryland. 

The claim of the heirs of James M. Marshall was based upon 
the grant to Lord Baltimore, but the Supreme Court held that 
the Lord Baltimore title to the bed of the river was a trust in 
the hands of the Proprietary for the common use of the new 
community, which upon the Revolution passed to the State of 
Maryland and was, by the cession by that State to the United 
States of the territory included in the District of Columbia, 
vested in the United States. 

The claim set up under the Kidwell patent was rejected 
on the ground that the Land Office was without authority to 
issue a patent to the lands overflowed by the tides as were the 
Kidwell Meadows. ^ 

The third and most interesting question determined by the 
Supreme Court arose out of the contention made by numerous 
claimants that riparian rights were annexed to the title to the 
lots and blocks in the city lying adjacent to the river front. 

In determining this contention the Court went deeply into 
the history of the establishment of the city and concluded that 
from the outset the city was intended to be bounded on the south 
water front by a street to be known as Water Street, which cut 
off any claim of owners of property abutting thereon to riparian 
rights or to rights in reclaimed land lying between that street 
and the river channel. The Supreme Court laid groat stress 



582 History of the City of Washington 

upon the Dermott or "Tin Case" Map, the history of which has 
been given in the chapters on the establishment of the city, which 
the Court held to be the official map of the city, and on which 
the designation of Water Street for the first time appeared. 

An interesting dissenting opinion was written by Mr. Jus- 
tice White wherein the view was taken that by the conduct of 
the original proprietors, the Commissioners who laid out the city, 
and the early purchasers of water front property, it was plainly 
indicated that riparian rights were deemed to attach to all 
property lying adjacent to the river front. 

The story of the organization of the Bar Association of the 
District of Columbia is told in the minutes of the organization 
as follows : 

"Room 28, National Hotel, Washington, D. C. 
Tuesday Night, May 23d, 1871. 

A number of the members of the bar of the Supreme Court 
of the District of Columbia having met at the above named place 
and time, a meeting was, upon the motion of Mr. Stanton, organ- 
ized for the transaction of business, and Mr. Merrick was called 
to the chair. 

Upon motion of Mr. W. Y. Fendall, Mr. Stanton was chosen 
secretary. 

The chair then stated that the object of the meeting was the 
formation of an organization of the members of the bar of the 
Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, with the design of 
elevating the tone, increasing the influence, securing and main- 
taining the rights of the profession, and of regulating the pro- 
fessional intercourse and relations of the members of the bar, 
with each other and with the court. 

After an interchange of views and expression of opinions on 
the part of several members of the profession present, it was 
upon the motion of Mr. Mattingly, Resolved 

"That the Gentlemen present form a Bar Association." 
Upon motion of Mr. Payne it was resolved 
"That a committee of five be appointed by the Chairman to 
prepare and report a plan or organization." 



History of the City of Washington 583 

The Committee was upon motion increased to seven, and 
thereupon the Chair appointed Mr. Davidge,, Mr. Carusi, Mr. 
Payne, Mr. Coombs, Mr. Totten, Mr. F. Miller and Mr. Perry. 

The committee, after consultation, presented through Mr. 
Davidge the following resolutions, as a preliminary report : 

"Resolved. That the title of this association shall be 'The 
Bar Association of the District of Columbia'. 

"Resolved. That the members of the bar now present in 
person and represented by proxy viz : present in person, Messrs. 
Walter D. Davidge, Richard T. Merrick, Joseph T. Coombs, 
Nathaniel Wilson, Frederick W. Jones, Christopher Ingle, Enoch 
Totten, Eugene Carusi, L. G. Hine, R. F. Morris, James G. 
Payne, F. B. B. Sands, Robert K. Elliot, William Y. Fendall, 
James Hoban, William J. Miller, Francis Miller, Benjamin G. 
Lovejoy, R. Ross Perry, Richard Harrington, and Edwin L. 
Stanton. 

' ' Represented by proxy : Messrs. John C. Kennedy, James 
Hughes, Walter S. Cox, Thomas J. Durant, A. G. Riddle, Charles 
F. Peck, Robert Leech, Nathaniel Carusi, Bland Washington, 
John E. Norris, Mahlon Ashford, Hugh Caperton, John F. Ennis, 
William A. Gordon, William D. Cassin, John C. Wilson, Arthur 
Fendall, Reginald Fendall and A. S. Worthington, are hereby 
declared to be members of the Association. 

' ' Resolved. That the initiation fee shall be twenty dollars. ' ' 

The Constitution and by-laws were adopted at an adjourned 
meeting held in the same place on the evening of May 30, 1871, 
at which Mr. Walter D. Davidge was elected President, Mr. 
Richard T. Merrick, 1st Vice-President; Mr. Walter S. Cox, 2d 
Vice-President; Mr. B. G. Lovejoy, Secretary; Mr. William F. 
Mattingly, Treasurer and Messrs. Enoch Totten, Nathaniel Wil- 
son, William B. Webb, James G. Payne, and Joseph J. Coombs 
members of the Executive Committee. 

Soon after organizing, the Bar Association began the accu- 
mulation of a library. A large number of books were contri- 
buted by various members and paid for as funds became avail- 
able. In a few years the Association had acquired one of the 
most complete law libraries in the country. Arrangements were 



584 History of the City of Washington 

made whereby two large rooms on the second story of the City 
Hall were put at the disposal of the Association for the accommo- 
dation of the library, which has ever since been kept there for 
the convenience of both the members of the Association and the 
Courts. 

Even since its organization the Bar Association has been an 
influential factor in the legal affairs of the Capital. It has 
shaped needed legislation, obtained many reforms in procedure, 
established rates of minimum fees, brought about the require- 
ment of an examination for entrance to the bar and done much 
to raise and maintain the standard of ethics in the profession. 



INDEX 

Academy, Georgetown 322 

Academy, The, theatre 510 

Accident, railroad 403 

Acquirement of territory for Capital City 23, 41, 61 

Act of Establishment 33 

Acts of Cession, Maryland and Virginia 25, 31, 32 

Adams, John, Administration of 206, 207, 323 

Adams, Mrs. John, Description of Washington 223 

Adams, John Quincy, administration of, 338-9; death of ■ • . . • ■ 350 

Adams, Mrs., Memorial 525 

Adelphi, The, Theatre • • 501-2 

Adoption of Site 21 

Adoption of site, prior to 9 

Agreement with lot owners 71, 76, 9 

Agriculture, Department of 440 

Albaugh's Theatre • 509 

Alden, Isabella, writer 494 

Alexandria 51 

Alexandria County 572 

Algonquins ........... 9 

American Capitol, 10, 73, 172-3, 319, 326, 366, 433-5, 481; material 

for, 179 ; work on, 181, 213 ; criticism of 201 

American National Bank •-...•• 563 

American Theatre 500-1 

American University 409 

Analostan Island, site of Indian village 9 

"Ana" of Thomas Jefferson 29 

Anacostia Bank 567 

Anderson, Alexander D., writer ■ • . 496 

Appropriations, public ••••..-■ 216 

Arlington 7 • • 462 

Army medical library ■ • 455 

Army war college •••-..•• 456 

Art collections: Catlin's 482; Marsh's 482; Stanley's 482; Harriet 

Lane Johnston's 483; Freer's 483; Evans' 483 

Art galleries: King's 481; National 483; Corcoran 483, 485 

Arthur's administration 394 

Art in Capitol 485 

Art, Literature, Music and Drama • • ■ • • • 481 

Assassination of Lincoln 375; of Garfield 393; of McKinley 401 

Auxiliary guard • • 234 

Axican, Indian chief 10 

Baltimore and Ohio track removed • • ••..•• 265, 344 

Bancroft, George, writer ■ • 491 



586 History of the City of Washington 

Bank clearings 430 

Banking 540 

Bank of Columbia 191, 540; grants credit 198, 205 

Bank of Commerce and Savings . . • • 567 

Bank of Metropolis 541, 549 

Bank of U. S 540, 545-8 

Bank of Washington 542, 549-50 

Bar association 582 

Barlow, Joel, writer 491 

Barnard, Henry, writer 492 

Barrow and Decatur duel 329 

Barry monument 525 

Barton, Clara, writer 496 

Beall, Thomas, mayor of Georgetown 58; trustee 168, 218 

Bell, Alexander Graham, writer . . 494 

Bell & Co., bankers ■ • • • • • 563 

Bench and Bar 572 

Berrett, James G., mayor 230 

Bladensburg 51 ; battle of 325 

Blaine's death 396 

Blake, Dr. James H., mayor • ■ 227 

Blodget, Samuel, 161-7; writer 489 

Blodget Hotel • 327 

Board of Charities 302; of education 407; of health 251, 259, 304; 

of public works 248, 251, 254, 257, 266, 274, 283, 286; of trade 431 

Bolton, Henry C, writer 496 

Booth's escape 376 ; capture • • 378 

Botanical Gardens 467 ; fountain in • • 519 

Boundaries of the ten miles square • • 82 

Bowen, Sayles J., mayor 231 

Braddock's defeat • • 20 

Bradley, William A., mayor 228 

Brent, Robert, mayor .226, 319 

Bridge Rock Creek 187 

Briggs, Emily Bdson, writer 195 

British invasion • • 324 

Brooks, Noah, writer 494 

Bryan, Wilhelmus B., writer ■ • 490 

Buchanan administration 369 

Building regulations • ■ .121, 122, 335 

Bulwer, Sir Henry Lytton, writer 496 

Burnes, David • • .... 63, 82 

Burnett, Prances Hodgson, writer 495 

Burroughs, John, writer 491 

Busey, Samuel C, writer • • ••..,. 496 

Butt and Millet memorial ■ • • • 526 

Cabin John Bridge 239 

Cabot, Francis, purchasing agent ....-• • • 180 

Calhoun, death of 352 

Camp Alger 399 

Campfires and tepees 9 

Canals: Potowmac 27, 39, 333; Tiber Creek 215, 243, 254; Wash- 
ington 239, 255; Chesapeake and Ohio 244, 333, 360- • • • 364 

Canterbury Hall • • • • • 505 



History of the City of Washington 587 

Capital City: acquirement of territory for, 23, 41, 61, 110, 103; 

boundary, 100; platting of, 87, 91, 101, 121-2 • • 215 

Capitol, American, 10, 73, 172-3, 179, 181, 201, 213, 319, 326, 366, 433-5, 481 

Capitol square 464 

Carbery, Thomas, mayor • • ••.... 227 

Carnegie Institution • • 448 

Carpenter, Frank G., writer ••..•• ■ • 496 

Carroll Charles, interviewed by Washington • • 41 

Carroll, Daniel, commissioner, 47, 49, 114, 194; "Daniel Car- 
roll's Case" • • ...... 130 

Carroll Hall ■ • 507 

Carroll statue ........ 526 

Carrollsburgh 65-6 

Carusi's saloon ■ ■ ■ • 502-3 

Catholic University ••..-.. 409 

Catlin's art collection • • • • 482 

Catlin, writer ...... • • 491 

Cemeteries 462 

Centennial anniversary ••..•• 400, 468 

Central Bank of Georgetown ••..•• 543 

Central National Bank 542, 559 

Cession of Maryland ••..•• 25, 31, 167 

Cession of Virginia 25, 32 

Chamber of Commerce • • • • 431 

Chariots • • • • 421 

Charter (1804) amended • • ....... 319 

Charter, first, 225; of 1802, 225; of 1820, 225; of 1871, 251- ■?.-•.. 247 

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal 244, 333, 360, 364" 

Cholera epidemic • • • • 342 

Choral society 508 

Christy's Opera House • • • • • • 505 

Chronicle, The 536 

Churches • • 336, 367, 390, 410 

Cilley and Graves duel ••..•• 346 

Circuit Court • ■ • • 572 

Circuses 503 

Citizens' National Bank 559 

Citizens' Savings Bank • • • 568 

City Commissioners, 232; Dennison, 271; Ketcham, 271; Blow, 
272; Phelps, 273; Bryan, 274; Dent, 282,284; Twining, 282; 
Lydecker, 283; Morgan, 283; Edmunds, 284; Wheatley, 284; 
West, 284, 295, 296; Webb, 284; Douglass, 285; Hine, 285; 
Ludlow, 285; Raymond, 286; Robert, 286; Ross, 291, 293; 
Parker, 291; Truesdell, 291-2; Wight, 291-2; Macfarland, 
291, 294-6, 299; Rossell, 292-3; Powell, 293; Black, 293; 
Beach, 293; Biddle, 293, 295; Morrow, 295-6; Cosby, 295-6; 
Judson, 295-7; Rudolph, 296-7; Johnston, 296-7; Newman, 

296, 298 ; Siddons, 297-8 ; Harding 297 

City Hall ■ •.... • • 240, 251, 255, 354 

City Hall ring 251 

City Post Office 415 

City Seal 232 

City of Washington, official name and map of . . ■ • ■ • 121 

Civil War matters 373, 374, 375, 380, 381 

Clay, Henry, death of ■•.... 368 



588 History of the City of Washington 

Clay and Randolph duel 338 

Clemmer, Mary, writer .....•■.. 494 

Cleveland administration 395, 397 

Coaches, mail 365 

Coast survey 454 

College of Georgetown 322 

Colored Schools 322, 388 

Columbia Institute 357 

Columbia National Bank 559 

Columbia Theatre 510 

Columbian Academy of Georgetown 322 

Columbian College 356, 408 

Columbian Library 498 

Columbian University 409 

Columbus monument 524 

Commerce 332, 358 

Commercial National Bank • • 566, 569 

Commission Government, Permanent 277 

Commission of Fine Arts 470-1 

Commissioners, first, naming of, 46; commission to 75; 93, 99, 
113-5, 120, 192-3, 196, 193-5. 

Commissioners' salary 115, 277 

Commissioners' office abolished 208 

Compensation for Maj. L'Enfant 122-4, 146-8 

Confiscation Act 381 

Congress, first session in District, 221; protection of • • 21 

Congress' hostile attitude • • . .229, 346 

Congressional discussion on site 27 

Constable, High 324 

Continental Congress, resolution of . 21 

Continental Trust Co 565 

Conveyance, forms of 93-4, 103 

Cooke, Henry David, Governor 249, 252 

Corcoran Gallery of Art .450, 483, 485 

Corcoran and Riggs, bankers 555 

Corcoran Scientific School ■ • 409 

Councils • ■ 225 

Court of Appeals • • • • 573, 576 

Court House 240 

Coxey's Army 398 

Cranch, William, commissioner . . • ■ ■ 195 

Crane, Paris & Co., bankers 563 

Criminal Court 575 

Criticism of public buildings 201 

Critic, Washington ; 536 

Cupidity of land owners . . 61 

Curry, Rev. J. L. M., writer • • 496 

Curtin, Jeremiah, writer 494 

Curtis, William E., writer ....••..•• 496 

Custom House 439 

Daguerre memorial 522 

Daily Patriot 535 

Dalton, Tristram, commissioner ••....••.... 195 

Damrosch's Band 509 



History of the City of Washington 589 

Deakins and Stoddert, secret agents 62, 63, 66, 70, 86 

Deakins, William, interviewed by Washington, 41; treasurer. . .187, 189 

Debts of Revolutionary War . . • • 29 

Debt of District 431-2 

Decatur and Barron duel • • ■ 329 

Deeds of Conveyance, 103, 111-2; authorship of 108, 109 

Delano, Judah, writer • • 490 

Dermott's plan, objectors to 227 

Descriptions of early Washington 222 

Destruction of trees • • 465 

Dewey's welcome, 400; sword presentation 400 

Dickens' visit 348 

Dime Savings Bank . ■ • • • 567 

Dinwiddie, Robert, Governor • • 19 

District government, permanent form 235 

District or Municipal building 293, 306 

District National Bank 563, 568 

Dorsey, Anna Hanson, writer 495 

Dorsey. Ella Lorraine, writer 493 

Douglas, Frederick, writer 493 

Downing memorial 525 

Drake, Charles D., writer • • 493 

Dredging • • • • 359 

Dutton, Clarence, writer • • 496 

Dupont monument ••....■• 520 

Early fires • • • • 224 

Early newspapers 530 

Early parking system • • • • 465 

Early schools • • • • 321 

Early settlers 10, 13, 17 

East Washington Savings Bank • • • • . . . 568 

Election riot • • • • 369 

Electric lighting • • • ■ . 414 

Ellicott, Maj. Andrew, surveyor, 57, 93, 117, 122, 161; map of, 

148-50, 215; trouble with ....... •• 151-161 

Elliot, Jonathan, writer • • • • 490 

Emancipation monument 518 

Emery, M. G., mayor • • • • . 231 

Engraving and Printing building 440 

Epidemics • • ■ • •■ 342 

Establishment period, conclusion of • • 193 

European loan, efforts to obtain •• • • 197 

Evans' Point • • • ■ 97 

Evening Star 535 

Exchange Bank • • •■ 566 

Explorers, white 10 

Farmers and Mechanics National Bank 543 

Farragut monument • ■ • • • • 520 

Federal City finance plan, 79; official name and map - • . . . .121-2 

Federal National Bank 563 

Federal Territory, survey of, 93, 150; boundary line, 100, 150; 

official name and map of 121 

Fillmore administration ....-• • • • • 368 



590 History of the City of Washington 

Financial problems, 188, 196-8, 204, 207, 210, 213; solution of 198, 200 

Fine Arts Commission 470-1 

Fire boats 421 

Fire Department matters 235, 362 

Fires • ■ • ■ • • • • . . 224, 235, 392 

First charter 225 

First commission 50 

First English explorers -...-. • • 11 

First National Bank 556 

First Spanish settlement . ■ • 10 

First telegraph line - • 348 

First white explorers • • 10-1 

Fish and Fisheries 461 

Fleet, Henry, fur trader and explorer • • • ■ 15 

Fletcher, Alice C, writer 494 

Fletcher, Robert, writer 496 

Force, Peter, mayor, 228, 252; writer 490 

Force, William Q., writer 491 

Ford's Theatre, 505, 509; catastrophes • • 397 

Foreign labor importations 183 

Forms of conveyance • • 93, 103 

Foster, Sir Augustus G., writer ... 496 

Four Mile Run, site Indian village 9 

Franklin monument 521 

Franklin National Bank • • • • 566, 570 

Frederick the Great statue 457, 525 

Freedmans Savings and Trust Co • • 557 

Fugitive slaves . 350 

Funkstown 65 

Gallaudet, Edward M., writer • • 494 

Gallaudet monument 521 

Gannett, Henry, writer 496 

Gantt, John M., Sect., 115; trustee, 168, 218; clerk 171 

Garfield administration, 392; assassination, 393; death, 393; 

monument • • ■ • • • ■ • . 521 

Gas 239, 348, 353 

Gales, Joseph, Jr., mayor 227 

General History 319 

Geographic Society, National 449 

Georgetown, 319, 321-2, 330, 332, 344, 352, 356, 361, 367, 383, 388; 
incorporated, 317; social center, 323; commerce, 332, 358; 
part of the Federal Capital, 405; residence of commission- 
ers, 196 ; manufactures . . • • ■ • • • 364 

Georgetown Academy • • 322 

Georgetown College • • ■ • 322 

Georgetown University^ 357, 408 

Georgetown and the Federal City 94 

George Washington Memorial Hall 448 

George Washington University • • • • • • 409 

Gill, Theodore N., writer 496 

Globe, The 532 

Gobright, Louis A., writer 494 

Goode, George Brown, writer • • 496 

Government, permanent, 235; date of transfer 220 

Grade crossings 417 



History of the City of Washington 591 

Grand Opera House 509-10 

Grant administration, 382 ; monument 526 

Grants by Maryland and Virginia 187 

Graves and Cilley duel 346 

Great Falls, source of water supply 238 

Greely, A. W., writer 496 

Greenleaf contract • • 162, 206, 210, 212 

Greenleaf and Morris, lot purchasers 191, 206, 210, 212 

Green monument • • ■ ■ 518, 519 

Gross statue 522 

Grover's Theatre ••..•• 505, 506 

Guarantee bill 199, 204, 210 

Guiteau trial and execution 393 

Hahneman memorial • • ■ • ..... 523 

Half and half plan 246, 280, 293, 301 

Hamburgh 65 

Hancock monument ••....••....•• 522 

Harmony between Washington and Jefferson . . • ■ 38 

Harris, George E., writer 493 

Harris, William T., writer ■ • • 493 

Harris, William Torrey, writer 495 

Harrison (Benjamin) administration 395 

Harrison (William Henry) administration ••....••..... 347 

Hay, John, writer ■ 494 

Hayes administration 391 

Henry monument • • • • • 520 

Herald, Washington 538 

Herdics . . • • • • • • . ■ • 422 

Herzog's museum • • • ■ ■ ■ ■ • 509 

Herzog's Ninth Street Opera House 50& 

Higgington's Island quarries purchased 179 

High Constable • ■ • • • • • • 234 

Highways system 412 

Home Savings Bank • • • • ■ • • • . . 568 

Hostile attitude of Congress 346 

House office building 442 

Howard University 408 

Ice manufacture • • • • 431 

Importation of foreign labor 183, 185 

Inauguration of Jefferson, 323; Madison, 323; Monroe, 325; 

Adams (John Quincy), 338; Jackson, 339-40; Van Buren. 

345; Harrison (Wm. H.), 347; Tyler, 347; Polk, 349; Taylor. 

351; Fillmore, 368; Pierce, 368; Buchanan, 369; Lincoln. 

371,374; Johnson, 382; Grant, 382; Hayes, 391; Garfield, 392; 

Arthur, 394; Cleveland, 395, 397; Harrison (Benj.). 395; 

McKinley, 398, 401; Roosevelt, 401, 402; Taft, 403; Wilson... • 404 

Indian fishing ground 10 

Indian portraits, Catlin's collection • ■ 482 

Indian village site 9 

Irish and Scotch settlers .... 17 

Iron Hall assembly rooms • • • • ... 503 



592 History of the City of Washington 

Jackson administration, 339-40 ; equestrian statue . . • • 517 

Jackson, Richard P., writer • • • • 492 

Jails • • 384 

Jefferson's "Ana," 29; administration, 323; quoted, 29, 41, 73; 

memorandum by, 73; notes on, 48; Sect, of State- • 37 

Jefferson and Washington in harmony ■•..•• 38 

Johnson administration .....•• • . 382 

Johnson, Lewis and Co., bankers • • . . . 562 

Johnson, Thomas, commissioner 47, 49, 114 

Johnston, Elizabeth B., writer • • • • 493 

Jones (John Paul) monument 525 

Jurisdiction and right of soil • • •-.... 25 

Kelly's Army ■ • 397 

Kendall Green 357 

Kernan's Lyceum Theatre • • • • . 510 

Key, Francis Scott, writer • • ■". 490 

Key and Sickles duel 370 

Kosciusko monument 522 

Labor troubles ■ • 186 

Lafayette visit, 330 ; square, 465 ; monument 521 

Lafayette Square Opera House 510 

Lancastrian School • • • • ■ ■ .243, 321, 334 

Land Office building 345 

\*and owners proposal, 44; cupidity, 61; refusal to sign deeds 94 

Langley, Samuel P., writer 496 

Lanman, Charles, writer . . • • 492, 495 

Larrainzar, Manuel, writer • • ■ • 496 

Lear, Tobias, writer 489 

L'Enfant, Maj. Pierre Charles, surveyor, 58, 59, 122; map by, 
215; first report, 82; compensation, 142-4, 146-8; plans of, 
101, 103, 116-8, 136, 148-50; trouble with, 125, 129, 132-5, 138-9, 
supported by the proprietors, 140; "references," 463; re- 
mains at Arlington •-...•• 145 

Lenox, Walter, mayor • • • • 230 

Liberation of slaves 381 

Libraries • ■ 229, 400, 441, 450, 496-7 

Lighting of streets 239 

Lincoln administration 371, 374 

Lincoln assassination, 375 ; death of • • 376 

Lincoln Hall 508, 509 

Lincoln monuments • • ■ ■ . . . 517, 518, 526 

Lincoln Park 464 

Lincoln National Bank 561 

Literature • • • • 489 

Loans • • • • 197, 200-2, 207-9 

Lockwood, Mary S., writer • • • • . 496 

Logan, Mrs. John A., writer 496 

Logan monument 523 

Long Bridge, site Indian village, 9; burning of • • - • . 327 

Longfellow monument 525 

Longitude 335 

Lot sales ....»•■ 81, 115, 120-1, 124, 161, 189, 191, 212 

Lotteries • • 162-7, 193, 215, 241, 243 



History of the City of Washington 593 

Lovejoy, Benjamin J., writer 493 

Luther monument • • 521 

Macfarland, Henry B. F., commissioner, 291, 294-6, 299; writer-.. 494 

Madison administration, 323; letter to Monroe • ■ 31 

Magruder, Dr. William B., mayor 230 

Mail coaches •• 365 

Mall, The 465 

Mallery, Garrick, writer . . . ■ ■ 496 

Mansion, President's 222 

Manufactures • • • • 331, 353, 364, 431 

Map of Federal City and territory 121, 148-50, 218 

Map, "tin case" • • 218 

Marine Band 510 

Markets • • 232, 255, 265, 344, 352, 363, 383 

Maryland cession, 25, 31, 167; grants 187 

Marshall monument • • • • 520 

Mason, Gen. Stevens Thompson, owner of Analostan Island 41 

Maury, John W., mayor 230 

Mayoralty government 225 - 

Mayor's salary • 232 

McClellan monument 523 

McGee, Prof. W. G., writer ■ • • • 496 

McKinley administration, 398, 401; assassination • ■ 401 

McLachlen Banking Corporation • • 570 

McMillan memorial 526 

McPherson, Edward, writer • • 495 

McPherson monument 519 

Medical matters • • 235, 357, 412 

Memorandum by Jefferson • • ■ • • ■ 73 

Memorial Continental Hall 451 

Mendelssohn Quintette Club 508 

Mendenhall, Thomas C, writer 496 

Merchants and Mechanics Savings Bank 569 

Merchants National Bank 556 

Meridian Hill 475 

Merriman, Florence A., writer ■ • • ■ 496 

Metropolitan Police 234 

Metropolitan Savings Bank ■•...•■ 559 

Metzerott Hall 507 

Mexican War 350 

Millet and Butt Memorial ■■...••...■■.. 526 

Molina, Senor Filipa, writer 496 

Monroe administration 328 

Montrose Park 475 

Monuments ■ ■ • • 354, ■" 1 1 

Morris, Robert, lot purchaser .... 191 

Morris and Greenleaf ... -191, 209, 210, 212 

Morris and Nicholson 209, 210, 212 

Municipal or District building • • 293, 306, 416, 443 

Municipal suffrage • ■ 309. 317 

Museum, National, 447 ; old • • 481 

Munsey Trust Co. ■ • ■ • • • 565, 570 

Music and the Drama 497 



594 History of the City of Washington 

Naming of Commissioners • • 46 

Name of City and Territory 121 

National Bank Act 570 

National Bank of the Metropolis • • • • 556 

National Bank of the Republic 556 

National Bank of Washington • • 542 

National Capital Bank ■ • • ■ • • 558 

National Capital site • • • • 9, 37 

National City Bank 556, 559 

National Gallery of Art 484 

National Geographic Society •■...•• • • 449 

National Hall 502 

National Institute • • 481 

National Intelligencer 227, 530 

National Metropolitan Bank . . • • •-...-• 542 

National Museum 447 

National Republican „ 535 

National Safe Deposit Co 558 

National Savings Bank 558 

National Savings and Trust Co. . . • • 558 

National Telephone Exchange 414 

National Theatre • • , 507-10 

National Theatre, The 500-1 

National University 409 

Naval Hospital • • .........••.•• 461 

Naval Observatory 454 

Navy Department building 319 

Navy Yard 457 

Negotiation with proprietors • • . • • • • 46 

Negroes, regulations concerning 233, 313, 316-7 

Negro suffrage ■ • 313, 316 

Newcomb, Simon, writer 496 

New Opera House • • ••..••. 505 

"New Scotland" 17 

Nicolay, John C, writer 494 

Nordhoff, writer 493 

North Capitol Savings Bank • ■ 568 

Northern Liberty market house destroyed 265 

Noted trials 577 

Nott, Charles C, writer • • 495 

Observatory, Naval • • 352 

Octagon House 327 

Odeon, The ■ • 501 

Official name of city and territory 121 

Ohio National Bank 562 

Ohio and Fotomac headwaters, nearness of 27 

Old Capitol building • ■ 327 

One hundredth anniversary 400 

Organic Act • • ■•...•• 282 

Organization of first commissioners 50 

Orphans Court 572 

Orr, Benjamin G., mayor • • 227 



History of the City of Washington 595 

Pennsylvania Avenue lined with poplars 319 

Page, Thomas Nelson, writer • • 493 

Pan American Union 452 

Park commission 467, 469-70, 417 

Parking system 216, 299, 465, 467, 469 

Park Savings Bank 568 

Patent Office, 354, 437, 463, 481 ; fire at 392 

Patriotic Bank 544 

Patrol boats . . • • 419 

Peace monument 519 

Penitentiary 456 

Pension Office 438 

Peoples Savings Bank 567 

Peoples Theatre • • 503 

Permanent Commission Government 277 

Pierce administration 368 

Pike, Gen. Albert, writer, 492; monument 523 

Philharmonic Hall 504 

Philharmonic Society • • 508 

Plan of Federal City .122, 148-50, 217 

Plan of finance for Federal City • • 79 

Police Court building 445 

Police, Metropolitan 234 

Police, Supt. of 233 

Polks administration 349 

Pope, Francis • 18 

Population 319, 330, 344, 352, 361, 367, 383, 405 

Poore, Ben Perley, writer ' 493 

Post Office • • 334-5, 345, 438-9, 415 

Post, Washington 536 

Potomac, first explorers of 10-1 

Potomac Flats cases 580 

Potomac Navigation 29, 359 

Potomac and Ohio headwaters ....•••• ..... 27 

Potomac Park • • 229, 479 

Potomac Savings Bank • • 568 

Potomac site 9 

Potowmack Company 27, 39, 332 

Poussin, G. T., writer 496 

Powell, Maj. J. W., writer 496 

Powhatan 9 

President's House 73, 101, 172-3, 181, 201, 213, 222-3, 319, 326, 435-6 

Press, The 530 

Prince of Wales visit ••...••...•• • • 371 

Princeton accident 349 

Proclamation by President Washington • • ■•.... 52 

Property titles • 201 

Property valuation 366 

Proposal from land owners 44 

Protection of Congress ••...••..■•... 21 

"Public appropriations" ■ • 216 

Public buildings 10, 73, 102, 112, 172-3, 179, 181, 201, 213-14, 224, 481 

Public buildings and grounds 226, 306, 433 

Public health affairs 236, 251. 259 

Public library 299, 450 



596 History of the City of Washington 

Public grounds and parks 462 

Public schools 243 

Public Works, Board of 248, 251, 254, 257, 383 

Railroad accident • • 403 

Red Cross building 456 

Randolph and Clay duel ••...••..... 338 

Rapine, Daniel, mayor 227 

Raymond, Geo. L., writer 493 

Rawlings monument 518 

Real estate and court record .... 539 

Real Estate Trust Co. 565 

Reintzel, Anthony, writer 491 

Removal of government 319, 322, 334 

Resolution of the Continental Congress • • 21 

Residence Act, 34, 36-8, 46, 51 ; amended ■ • . • . 55 

Retrocession 336, 349 

Revenue sources 187, 196, 199, 204 

Revolutionary War debts • ■ • • • • . 29 

Riggs and Co., bankers 555 

Riggs National Bank ■ • 556 

Right of soil and jurisdiction 25 

Riley, Charles V., writer 496 

Riots • • 369 

Risley-Seward, Olive, writer . . . • ■ • • 496 

Risley's Variety 503 

Rivalry for location • • 40 

Rochambeau monument • • ••...•■...-• 522 

Rock Creek Bridge ■ • 187 

Rock Creek Park 472 

Rockhill, W. W., writer • • • • 494 

"Rome" • • 18 

Romero, Matias, writer • • 496 

Roosevelt administration 401-2 

Royal, Anne, writer • • • • • • 491 

Rush monument 523 

Salary, mayor's, 232 ; commissioners' 277 

Sales of lots 81, 115, 120-2, 124, 161, 189, 191, 212 

Sampson, George W., writer ■ • • • • • 492 

Sarmiento, Senor D. F., writer 496 

Savings Banks ■ • • • 567 

Schlozer, Baron Kurd von, writer • • 496 

/Schoolcraft, writer 491 

^Schools • • ••... 243, 255, 354, 363, 388, 405 

School trustees 320, 363, 388-9, 407 

Scidmore, Elizabeth R., writer 495 

Scotch Irish settlers 17-8 

"Scotland Yard" • • • • • • 18 

Scott, Gustavus, commissioner, 193 ; death of 195 

Scottish Rite Temple 453 

Scott monuments 518 

Seal of the City 232 

Seat of Government, act of establishment, 33; attempt to re- 
move • • 391 ; 26, 41, 52, 220 



History of the City of Washington j 597 

Seaton, Julia, writer . . . • • • • • • 495 

Seaton, W. W., mayor 228, 352 

Seawell, Mollie Elliott, writer . . • • 495 

Second National Bank 559 

Secret agents • • • • 61 

Security Savings and Commercial Bank . . ■ ■ 566 

Senate Office building 442 

Seventh Street Savings Bank . . . • • 569 

Sewer system • • 243, 286, 300 

Shepherd, Alex R ■ • 251, 261, 265-6, 271 

Shepherd monument • • 524 

Sheridan, P. H., writer • ■ 495 

Sheridan monument 524 

Sherman monument ■ ■ • • 523 

Sherman, William T., writer • • ■ ■ 495 

Shipyards 354 

Shoemaker, William L., writer . . • ■ .... 493 

Sickles and Key duel • • 370 

Site of National Capital 9, 25, 37, 41 

Slavery 230 

Slaves liberated • ■ • ■ 381 

Smallwood, Samuel N., mayor, 227; death of 330 

Smith, Capt. John 11-3 

Smithsonian Institution • • 355, 446-7, 482, 503 

Social life ■ - 322, 328, 369, 382, 392-3, 396, 399, 402, 403, 405 

Soldiers Home • • • • 366, 459 

Sousa, John Philip, band director 510 

Southworth, Mrs. E. D. E. N., writer ••...•• • • 493 

Spanish settlements . . • • ••....••. 10 

Spofford, A. R., writer ■ • 492 

Springs • • • • 100, 237, 330, 352, 354, 463 

Stage lines 366 

Stanley, writer • • 491 

Star, Evening • • ■ • • • 536 

State, War and Navy building • • 438 

Statue of Frederick the Great • • 457, 525 

Statue of A. R. Shepherd • ■ • • 266 

Steamboats and ships • • 343, 359, 365, 386, 419 

Stephenson monument 524 

Stith, William, quoted 12 

Stoddert, Benjamin, interviewed by Wasl m:u<.u 41 

Storms 278, 326, 392, 396-7, 399, 403 

Stowe, Harriet Beecher, writer • • 492 

Street improvement 241, 254, 286 00, 352, 354, 361, 366, 383 

Street lighting 239 

Street car lines • • 366, 387, 481 

Street names • • 121, 413 

Stuart, David, commissioner .... .47, 49, 114 

Steuben monument 522 

Suffrage, municipal • ■ 309. 313-7 

Supt. of Police, office • ■ 233 

Surratt trial MS 

Supreme Court, first session in l.iugton 221 

Supreme Court (D. C.) 573 

Survey of the ten miles squar • 56, 93 



598 History of the City of Washington 

Taft administration • ■ . . 403 

Taggart, Hugh T., writer, 490; quoted 11 

Taxicabs • • • • 430 

Taylor administration, 351; death of ....... 351 

Teachers salaries 321 

Telegraph line, first • • • • 348 

Telephones • • 414 

Temporary Commission Government • ■ • • . 271 

"Ten miles square," survey, 56; boundaries • • . 82 

Terminal company • • 418 

Territorial Government • • • • 226, 231, 247, 253, 271, 383 

Theatres 497 

Thomas monument 519 

Thornton, Dr. William, commissioner • • 193 

Tiber Creek canal • • 215, 243, 254 

Times, Washington • • 538 

Tin case map • • 218, 464 

Titles to property 201 

Toner, Dr. Joseph M., writer ■ • 492 

Towers, John T., mayor, 230 ; writer • ■ • • . . 491 

Townsend, George Alfred, writer • • 492 

Traders National Bank 562, 569 

Transportation • • • • . . . 384-5, 416, 430 

Treasury building .213, 224, 319, 326, 344-5, 436-7, 481 

Treaty with England • • 204 

Trees destroyed . . . • • • • 465 

Trials of note 577 

Trust companies ■ • • • . 563 

"Twenty Buildings," The • • 211 

Tyler administration • • • • ■ • . . . 347 

Upton, Harriet T., writer • • • • . 494 

United States Theatre • • • • • • . . 497 

Union Bank of Georgetown 543 

Union Trust Company 564 

United States Trust Company 564, 565, 570 

Union Savings Bank • ■ • • • • 566, 569 

United States Savings Bank 569 

Union Station 416 

Van Buren administration 345 

Van Ness, Jno. P., mayor • • • • 228 

Varnum, Joseph W., writer • • • • 491 

Viewing lands for site 43, 44 

Virginia, cession, 25, 32 ; Virginia grants • • • • 187 

Virginia payments, tardiness of 188 

Virginia, Smith's description and ma" of 12 

Voyage of Smith up the Potomac • • • • 12 

Wallach, Richard, mayor ... 231 

Wall's Theatre 528 

Wall's Opera House • • • • 507, 509 

Walsh, Robert, writer : 491 

War Office • • . • • - l 319 

Ward, Lester F., writer i 496 



Til 



4'telS 



History of the City of Washington 599 

Ward commissioners • • • • . 232 

Warden, David B., writer 490 

Washington, George, diary 75, 100 

Washington, George, letters, 35, 36, 54-6, 58, 62, 64, 67, 70, 73, 
84, 87-8, 98, 108-9, 125, 133, 139, 148, 177, 183, 216-7 

Washington and Dinwiddie 19 

Washington and Jefferson ■•...■•..... 38 

Washington proclamation • • 52 

Washington, surveyor, 20 ; visits Georgetown, 75, 101 ; takes sou- 
thern trip 93, 99, 187 

Washington canal 239, 255, 289 

Washington (city), early description of ••.........• 222 

Washington County 572 

Washington City assembly rooms 497 

Washington Critic 536 

Washington Herald 538 

Washington Library • • 496 

Washington Loan and Trust Co. • • 560 

Washington Mechanics Savings Bank 569 

Washington monument, 354, 511; Greenough's statue of, 516; 

equestrian statue ••..... 516 

Washington Mirror 532 

Washington Post • • ••...■• 536 

Washington Safe Deposit Co ... 559 

Washington and Southern Bank 570 

Washington Times ......... • • 538 

Washington Theatre • • 497, 504-5, 508 

Walter Reed General Hospital • • 461 

Water System 237, 286-7, 294, 300 

Watterston, George, writer 590 

Webster monument • • • • 522 

Weddings at White House, 324, 329, 339, 341, 348, 383, 392, 395, 403, 405 

Weeks, Helen, writer 492 

Weightman, Roger C, mayor ••...••...■• 227 

Welliver, Judson C, writer 495 

West End National Bank 562 

West, Henry Litchfield, writer • • 494 

White, Alexander, commissioner 194 

White House 435-6, 481 

White House lot 464 

White House Park ••...■■...•■ • • . 465 

Whitman, Walt, writer 491 

Wholesale trade 430 

Willard's Hall 504 

Williams. John S., writer • • 491 

Wilson administration .............. 404 

Winder building 353, 439 

Witherspoon monument • • 524 

Wolf, Simon, writer 495 

Y. M. C. A 411 

Zoological Park ITT 



600 History of the City of Washington 

ERRATA. 

The statement regarding the filling of the canal from Rock Creek 
to 17th Street, as on page 240, has reference to the Chesapeake 
and Ohio canal, which followed bank of the river, as it then existed, 
from the Rock Creek basin to the 17th Street basin and entered the 
latter by a lock, the site of which is marked by the old stone lock 
house which still stands at the southwest corner of 17th and B Streets. 

The financial statement in last paragraph on page 246 is not 
correct. The correct figures are given on pages 431-2. 

On page 36, second paragraph, October 6 should be November 13. 

Page 71, Benjamin Stoddard should be Stoddert; page 77, 13th day 
of March should be 30th; page 81, Mayor Brent should be Henry J. 
Brent; page 125, Sottish should be Scottish; page 211, 1794 should 
be 1793; page 227, Carberry should be Carbery; page 274, Ex-Repre- 
sentatives should be Representatives; page 405, 1900 should be 1910; 
page 422, date 1833 should be 1883. 



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